Petroplex International, a development company of bulk liquids storage tank terminals based in Baton Rouge, on Monday said it launched the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study as part of the development of its planned bulk liquids terminal facility in St. James Parish, La.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the FEED study for this project,” said Timothy P. Berrigan, chief development officer for Petroplex.

“We continue to build momentum in the development and financing aspects of this project and hope soon to deliver this much-needed storage, blending and logistics facility to our anchor customers in the St. James Parish region,” he added.

Petroplex, which is backed by a consortium including Australian investment bank Macquarie Group, Quanta Services and individual investor Harley Franco, announced that QPS Engineering - a division of Quanta - has been engaged to lead the design and engineering work of the project.

Meanwhile, Verwater B.V. will provide specialist engineering advice on the storage tanks.

The storage and distribution terminal will include a unit-train facility, barge and ship dock, truck racks and pipeline and will be designed and tailored to client specifications, Petroplex says.

The project is expected to break ground on major construction works following construction financing close in the first half of 2013.

Commercial operations are expected to begin during 2014.