“Seventeen years more” echoes in the air around Bergs oljehamn. Imagine the stories these oil depots could tell. Bergs oljehamn sits on the Saltsjön between Nacka Strand and Nyckelviken. It is an important part of Stockholm’s fuel supply.
In 1959, this site transformed into Bergs oljehamn. Before that, Bergs gård stood here in the early 1900s. It was home to gulddragaren Björk and his family.
Today, Circle K owns Bergs oljehamn. They use it to supply petroleum products. These include gasoline, heating oil, and aviation fuel. The products reach customers around Stockholm, Nyköping, Eskilstuna, and Uppsala.
Tankers deliver about 10.000 cubic meters of fuel each month. About 70 tank trucks transport the fuel every day. Circle K’s lease agreement is valid until 2036.
Since 2003, there has been a review of Stockholm’s oil and fuel supply. Some consider Bergs oljehamn’s location less suitable. This is due to its proximity to residential areas in Nacka Strand and Jarlaberg.
Once, there were many oil depots in Stockholm. They were built as car traffic increased. Fuel arrived by tanker. Cisterns and rock chambers stored it near the capital’s entrance. Tank trucks then delivered it to gas stations and customers.
Criticism of this traffic grew in the 1980s and 1990s. The criticism targeted both tankers and trucks. Housing shortages also increased at the same time. Politicians saw an opportunity to replace industrial areas with attractive housing.
Local politicians quickly decided to close oil depots. By the early 2000s, only two facilities remained. These were Bergs oljehamn and Loudden.
Greater Stockholm consumes about 15 percent of Sweden’s fuel. That is over 1.6 million tons of liquid fuel per year. When Loudden and Bergs oljehamn operated fully, about 33.000 short tank truck trips were needed to distribute the fuel.
Both Loudden and Bergs oljehamn were slated for closure. Closing both would mean longer transport routes. It would also mean many new tank trucks.
Stockholm decided to close Loudden in 1999. The city owned the land and terminated the lease agreements. Oil companies fought back. However, the closure was postponed. Loudden finally closed on December 31, 2019.
The closure of Loudden has had consequences. Preem moved most of its volumes to Bergs oljehamn. OKQ8 also moved much of its volume there. This has led to increased heavy traffic in Nacka. It also created a more vulnerable distribution network. The region now relies on a single depot for almost all its fuel.
As we stand here at Bergs oljehamn, consider its future. Will it continue to supply Stockholm with fuel? Or will it make way for new developments? Only time will tell what the future holds for Bergs oljehamn. Its story is far from over.