The Basque Government has granted environmental authorization for a hazardous chemical storage facility in Hernani, Spain, capable of holding up to 5 million liters of flammable, toxic, and corrosive liquids in 200 tanks. Overseas chemical buyers and logistics operators should monitor this development as it signals new regional storage capacity for dangerous goods, potentially impacting supply-chain routes and compliance requirements in northern Spain.
Project details
The facility is planned on a 4,916-square-meter plot in the Lastaola industrial estate, Epele neighborhood, between the GI-3410 road and the Urumea River. It will replace a disused warehouse previously used for metal painting. Up to 200 isotanks, each with a 26,000-liter capacity, will be stacked three high in an open-air installation protected by 12-meter perimeter walls. The project is currently in public consultation and awaiting an operating license from the Hernani city council.
Environmental and safety concerns
Both the Basque Government and Gipuzkoa Provincial Council warn that the site's proximity to the Urumea River—a Special Conservation Area (ZEC)—poses a risk of severe ecosystem damage from accidental spills. The environmental report notes that most of the land lies in a medium flood probability zone (100-year return period), but concludes that the isotank storage will not be affected by river flooding. The government also highlights risks of explosive atmospheres, soil contamination, and pollutant runoff into the river, and has imposed protective measures and a self-protection plan spanning 7 of the 16-page environmental impact resolution.
Company background and site selection
The project promoter is K-Norte 2018, a newly formed company based in Irun, originating from the intermodal isotank transport sector. The company chose the Hernani site because it is an industrial area with several chemical firms, already subject to pre-existing negative impacts and potentially polluting activities. The plot is listed in the contaminated soil inventory and lies within the alert and intervention zone for toxic clouds from Electroquímica de Hernani. The company considered a remote location to avoid population disturbance but rejected it due to potential landscape and habitat impacts.
What buyers should watch
Overseas chemical importers and distributors should track the licensing process in Hernani, as the facility will offer new storage for hazardous liquids in the Basque Country, a key logistics hub. The site's flood risk and proximity to a protected river may lead to stricter operational conditions, affecting storage costs and insurance. Companies sourcing or transporting flammable, toxic, or corrosive chemicals through northern Spain should review their supply-chain contingency plans in light of this project's potential to alter regional storage availability and compliance dynamics.
Source: Read the original report | Published: March 09, 2026