VTTI Panama has been recognised with a 2026 Project Award from Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) for Excellence in the Management of a Complex Materials Protection Project, highlighting its innovative “tank-within-a-tank” solution.

The award acknowledges the successful restoration of an 80-year-old underground concrete tank to safe and reliable service. The 50,000-barrel diesel tank, originally constructed in 1942, had experienced recurring integrity challenges for nearly a decade, with conventional repair methods failing to provide a lasting solution.

Rather than decommissioning the asset, the team implemented an alternative engineering approach: installing an internal liner to create a fully engineered containment system within the existing concrete structure. This “tank-within-a-tank” concept effectively established a new internal barrier, restoring full operational capability.

The solution is expected to extend the tank’s service life by more than 30 years, delivering a significantly more cost-effective outcome compared with full replacement.

AMPP recognised not only the technical complexity of the project, but also the way it was managed and executed. Following the project’s success, the same methodology has already been replicated on another concrete tank at the terminal.

The achievement will be formally celebrated at the AMPP Annual Conference and Expo in Houston on March 18th.

For more information visit www.vtti.com