TOP VOICES INTERVIEW | Alfonso Reyo, Hafesa’s Storage Plants Director

In an energy sector that is constantly evolving, the experience and vision of those leading operations make all the difference. In this new edition of #TopVoices, we speak with Alfonso Rey, Hafesa’s Storage Plants Director, who offers us a privileged insight into the strategic role these facilities play within the energy ecosystem. With nearly two decades of experience, Alfonso discusses the sector’s main challenges, the importance of innovation, and the unique value our terminals provide.

1. What are the main challenges facing storage plants today?

The greatest challenge is delivering the very best service to our clients, because their satisfaction is our top priority. In the case of hydrocarbon terminals, our clients are companies that deposit product in our facilities, mainly wholesale oil operators, both national and international. The market is shifting rapidly, which forces us to continually adapt to new obligations and needs, making our plants increasingly versatile.

Another key challenge is process automation, which allows us to reduce to a minimum any possible errors caused by human intervention. This is complemented by our team’s unwavering commitment to meeting the highest regulatory standards in the Spanish industry, as well as the ISO certifications that endorse our work.

2. What is the strategic role of storage in the energy ecosystem, and how does Hafesa contribute through its plants?

Storage is an essential link in the hydrocarbons value chain. At our plants we aim not only to deliver the best possible service to our clients and the service stations supplied with product, but also to ensure it is as sustainable as possible. To achieve this, we use next-generation biofuels, which significantly reduce pollutant emissions without compromising product quality.

In addition, our terminals, located across Spain, are equipped with alternative safety systems that guarantee continuity of supply. A clear example was the recent nationwide blackout: our plants continued operating normally, without any interruption to service.

3. How has Hafesa’s plant management evolved in recent years to adapt to a more competitive and regulated environment?

With almost twenty years of experience managing terminals, I would highlight four key areas:

• Modernisation of processes: when I began in 2006, it was common for many operations to be carried out manually, such as truck loading or measuring volumes. Today, thanks to advanced software, these processes are performed automatically, which greatly reduces the risk of error.
• Investment in infrastructure: our clients’ evolving needs compel us to invest constantly in design and operational improvements, making our plants increasingly versatile.
• Continuous training: this is a core value for us. We are firmly committed to the ongoing development of our employees and rely on a team of experienced professionals who reinforce this commitment every day.
• Safety and regulatory compliance: our plants are regularly inspected by the authorities in areas such as industrial safety, environmental protection, and taxation. On top of this, some of our international clients demand even stricter standards, which drives us to maintain a culture of continuous improvement.

4. What competitive advantages do Hafesa’s plants offer compared with other facilities in the Iberian Peninsula?

Our main advantage is that we provide an exclusive and personalised service, giving clients full visibility of their product’s traceability at all times. Very few terminals in Spain can offer this level of transparency.

We are also particularly flexible in our operations. For example, unlike other terminals that cut off tanker unloading mid-afternoon, we do not impose such restrictions. At Hafesa we maintain uninterrupted operations, which is a major added value for our clients.

Furthermore, we work with leading industrial suppliers, allowing us to use state-of-the-art loading systems, especially at our Bilbao and Motril terminals. In fact, DBA Bilbao is one of the fastest-loading facilities in Spain: a full tanker lorry can be loaded in as little as 15–20 minutes.

5. What role will storage plants play in a multi-energy future? Is Hafesa prepared to adapt?

Absolutely. We are ready to take on any significant transformation in the sector. Today, we are already a national benchmark in the storage and distribution of sustainable products such as biodiesel. Our Motril plant has become a strategic hub for the import and export of this product by vessel in recent years, and it was the first hydrocarbons tax warehouse in Spain to carry out bioethanol–petrol blends.

We have a highly qualified team with proven experience in pioneering projects, which gives us the confidence to adapt swiftly and effectively to an increasingly multi-energy future.