Working Group
Infrastructrure

Goals

Bring forward connectivity in the trilateral region concentrating on the three main focus areas „interconnectivity“, „data exchange and digitalization“ and „logistical access to feedstocks/pipelines“

Strengthening the network and incentivizing new collaborations for joint infrastructure projects.
Participants
Companies

Air Liquide, Arlanxeo, BASF, BOREALIS, BP, Covestro, c2i, DOW Europe GmbH, Evonik, Ineos, Lanxess, Lyondell Basell, Phytowelt, PPS Pipelines, SABIC, Shell
Chemical Parcs

Chemelot, Currenta, YNCORIS 
Ports

Duisport, Port of Antwerp, 
Port of Rotterdam 
Associations

essenscia,VCI NRW, VIL, VNCI
Timeline 
Publications
Inland waterways are very relevant transport modes for the trilateral chemical industry. The working group developed ideas on improving inland waterway transport (IWT) in the trilateral region. The position and discussion paper highlights those ideas and serves the purpose of contributing to the political debate on the role of IWT in the region.
Position, Situation and Requirements Paper (PSR): This paper consists of an extensive compilation of pr oject ideas in the focus topics interconnectivity, data exchange and digitalization and logistical access to feedstocks/pipelines to bring the connectivity in the trilateral region forward. 
Priority Action List (PAL): A project team reworked the long list of project ideas of the PSR and drafted a list of priority actions to be followed-up by the working group. It serves as the basis for concrete next steps that the WG or smaller subgroups with broad representation from all three regions are developing and bringing forward.

Position Paper „A vision for pipelines“:This paper was developed by the WG on pipelines. It asks for a „vision for pipelines“ in the trilateral region that: closes the west-east gap in the network, reduces the project realisation time, designates corridors for pipelines, looks at a harmonization of approval procedures in the region, includes the public and pushes for more recognitation of pipeline transport at the EU level. 

News

TCR in Brussels

CCNR Workshop on Market Opportunities for Inland Waterway Transport


On June 24, 2026, a workshop on future markets for inland waterway transport (IWT) was held at the invitation of the European Commission (EC) and the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). The workshop focused on industrial and energy transformation and the role of IWT within this context. Among others, Tanja Merckx (Logistics and Customs Advisor, essenscia) presented the perspective of the chemical industry in the Trilateral Chemical Region (TCR). 


Subsequent questions - including those from the EC - underscored the importance of this topic in the European context.


With around 100 participants from industry, ports, and shipping companies, the one-day event highlighted new markets, opportunities, and challenges for IWT, while also addressing the decline in traditional cargo volumes. Panel discussions and Q&A sessions clearly identified the necessary European prerequisites. Steffen Erlewein (Bulk Operations Europe, BASF) aptly summarized a key point: shippers – as the clients commissioning IWT services – need greater opportunities to play an active, goal-oriented role in shaping the future of IWT at such workshops. This was a central message in Tanja Merckx’ presentation and reflects one of the key proposals of the TCR Working Group on Infrastructure to the EC and the broader industry.


The European chemical industry is essential for Europe’s sustainable and industrial transition and relies, among other factors, on a strong and future-proof logistics backbone. Concrete action is required to safeguard the competitiveness and resilience of Europe’s integrated chemical clusters, including targeted investment in inland waterway infrastructure and multimodal connectivity. To unlock this strategic advantage, policies must anticipate new cargo flows, support climate-resilient infrastructure, and accelerate digitalisation and modal shift. With the right framework conditions, inland waterway transport can remain a cornerstone of Europe’s sustainable industrial future.


Declining overall volumes may partly be offset by emerging transport goods such as liquefied CO₂ (CCS/CCUS) and future molecules like hydrogen, ammonia, or methanol. However, across all industry sectors, a fully functioning, reliable – including digital – infrastructure of waterways, locks, ports, and vessels is essential and can prove to be a game changer for IWT.


The presentation of Mrs Merckx is available for download here:  Read More

3rd Trilog Workshop on Digitalisation in Logistics

ITLM as a use case for digitizing site logistics processes

Necessity for further trilateral collaboration on interoperable digital solutions


On March 12th 2025, almost forty logistics and digitalization experts from chemical companies, ports and associations located in Flanders, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia took part in an interactive workshop in Leverkusen organized by the Trilog initiative in cooperation with Currenta and Chemion and supported by Cefic. 


It was already the third successful face-to-face workshop on digitalization in lo gistics after prior events at BASF Antwerp and DOW Terneuzen in the past years. 

The two hot topics of the day in Leverkusen: What is the idea behind Chemion’s Integrated Transport and Loading Point Management (ITLM) project and what can and should shippers do already now to prepare for the eFTI implementation? Read More

How to standardize and digitize site logistics processes? Use case and perspectives for trilateral collaboration

Interactive Trilog workshop and site visit in cooperation with DOW Terneuzen


On February 29th 2024, nearly sixty logistics and digitalization experts from chemical companies located in Flanders, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia as well as members of ministries and ports took part in an interactive workshop in Terneuzen organized by the Trilog initiative in cooperation with Dow Terneuzen and supported by Cefic. This was the second face-to-face TRILOG workshop on applied digitalization. The hot topic of the day: Why do we need digital standards for intermodal transport and in general for logistics and how to overcome the hurdles to proceed? Read More

How to digitize site logistics processes! 

Use case and perspectives for trilateral collaboration 

Interactive Trilog workshop and site visit in cooperation with BASF Antwerp


December 2022. More than thirty logistics and digitalization experts from chemical companies located in Flanders, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia took part in an interactive workshop on 12 December 2022 in Antwerp organized by the Trilog initiative in cooperation with BASF Antwerp and supported by Cefic. The hot topic of the day: How to digitize and automate site logistics process in the chemical industry?!


Read more...