Dow manages approximately 220 kilometers (137 miles) of underground pipelines for the transport of ethylene, naphtha and propylene. These pipelines are located between Dow Terneuzen, the port of Antwerp and the Botlek area in Rotterdam. The transport of chemical products by pipeline makes transport by train, truck and ship redundant. It is by far the most fast, sustainable, efficient and quiet way of transporting our products. Safe for people and the environment. The Pipeline Management department ensures this safety. In cooperation with farmers, local residents and operators of nature reserves.![](/content/dam/images/public-images/corporate/2024/D05-2020-Dow-Pipeline_82.jpg)
Booster stations pump the raw materials through the pipelines under pressure. As the pipes contain high-risk raw materials, it is important that the pipes are not damaged. For this reason, the Pipeline Management department takes strict safety measures. The pipes rise above the ground in a number of places. This is where the valve posts are located, placed there by the department. The valve posts are fitted with measuring equipment. This equipment measures both the temperature in, as well as the pressure on, the pipes. Supervisors from the Pipeline Management department read the data from this measuring equipment in Terneuzen. They do this from the control room on the Dow site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact with landowners
The pipelines run under pieces of land belonging to different owners. The department likes to keep the best possible contact with these landowners. Crops that grow above the pipelines can suffer crop damage. If this happens, Dow compensates the landowners. It is important for landowners to be aware that a pipeline runs under their land. White and red posts show where the pipes run. These posts also display the telephone number on which the Pipeline Management department can be reached.
Safety during work activities
Anyone who is planning to build or dig in the vicinity of the pipelines must inform Dow. The Pipeline Management department will check whether the work could cause damage to the pipes. Department supervisors regularly drive along the route of the pipelines to carry out checks. On a weekly basis, they also monitor from a helicopter whether anyone is carrying out unreported work in the vicinity of the pipelines.
- The Netherlands: Digging conditions from Velin:
Anyone who is planning to excavate, build, etc. in the vicinity of the pipelines must submit the excavation notification (KLIC) and meet the conditions in the letter from Dow as well as the conditions from Velin - Belgium: Digging conditions from Fetrapi:
Anyone who is planning to excavate, build, etc. in the vicinity of the pipelines must submit the excavation notification (KLIP) and meet the conditions in the letter from Dow as well as the conditions from Fetrapi
If you would like to know what planting is permitted around our pipeline, take a look here
For questions, please contact the Pipeline Management department at +31-115672888 or contact us.