Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, has signed a contract to provide comprehensive process automation systems, solutions and services to Dangote Oil Refinery Ltd., a subsidiary of African business conglomerate Dangote Group.
Under the terms of the agreement, Schneider Electric will supply its EcoStruxure system architecture and platform, comprising its EcoStruxure Foxboro distributed control system, Triconex process safety solutions, PIONIR analytical fuels blending systems and a suite of SimSci and Wonderware software solutions, including its unified supply chain management and operations management software, to drive supply chain and operational efficiency, reliability and profitability improvements at Dangote’s greenfield refinery in Lagos, Nigeria.
EcoStruxure is Schneider Electric’s IoT-enabled, open and interoperable system architecture and platform that deliver Innovation At Every Level across connected products, edge control and apps, analytics, and services. The EcoStruxure architecture enables scalable design and operation of connected systems with best-in-class cybersecurity built in at every layer.
Meeting Demand
“While Nigeria is the world’s eighth largest producer and exporter of crude oil, we still import nearly 80 percent of our petroleum products,” said Devakumar V. G. Edwin, group executive director, strategy, capital projects and portfolio development, Dangote Industries Ltd.
“Once completed in 2019, however, the Dangote Refinery will be the world’s largest single train refinery capable of producing 33 million tons of various liquid products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and other petrochemicals every year. Not only is that enough to meet all of Nigeria’s consumption needs each and every day, we will have a surplus of each of these products for export.”
Because it will be a single train facility, any interruption or shutdown in operations at the Dangote Refinery would decrease output from 650,000 barrels a day to zero. Recognizing the need to safeguard their continuous operations, Dangote Oil Refinery Ltd. chose Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS and Triconex process safety solutions—which include emergency shutdown systems—to maximize the safety and efficiency of their operations and to improve the reliability of their equipment assets and asset sets. PIONIR process analyzers will improve process optimization, asset protection and compliance with environmental regulations. And advanced SimSci and Wonderware software will be implemented both to unify planning and scheduling and to improve real-time data collection and analysis, further optimizing operations and product blending. When combined, the integrated suite of systems and software solutions will help the Dangote Refinery gain better real-time control of all its business variables, including the safety, reliability, efficiency and profitability of its operations.
Value-focused IIoT Technology = Real-time Safety, Efficiency, Reliability and Profitability Control
“Maintaining continuously safe, reliable and efficient refinery operations will help us reach our national goal of reducing petroleum products imports and increasing our energy independence, which could help increase our country’s foreign exchange by up to $5.5 million and reduce oil imports by up to $7.5 million,” Edwin said.
To ensure its refinery continually runs smoothly and at full capacity, Dangote Oil Refinery Ltd. sought high-end solutions that both mitigate risks and hazards and prevent unscheduled downtime.
“Through its Foxboro and Triconex systems, PIONIR process analyzers and market-leading SimSci and Wonderware software brands, Schneider Electric has a longstanding reputation for delivering reliable, value-focused technology solutions. Their strong track record gives us confidence in their ability to help the Dangote Refinery achieve exceptional levels of real-time operational safety, efficiency, reliability and, of course, profitability. This will translate into more value for the refinery and more value for Nigeria’s economy,” said Edwin.
As part of the agreement, Schneider Electric has created a task force between its Nigerian office and its engineering office in India, which has successfully implemented critical control and safety systems for some of the largest refineries in the world. This level of experience and expertise, coupled with Schneider Electric’s commitment to providing local support, made the company Dangote’s top choice. Schneider Electric will also provide design, engineering and installation services, not only ensuring a successful implementation from start to finish, but ensuring the workforce is equipped with the tools they need to positively impact business performance.
“Today’s industrial operations are facing two critical challenges: the increasing speed of business and the pace of technology changes, particularly in the day of IIoT,” said John Eva, senior vice president, global engineering, procurement and construction, Schneider Electric. “To help Dangote address these challenges, we are delivering and implementing value-focused technology solutions—innovation at every level—so they can move from managing their performance and business results to actually controlling them, in real time.”
For more details and information about Schneider Electric’s process automation systems and solutions, please visit the company’s EcoStruxure Plant webpage.
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