10 | T T to page 12 T T Richard Loader Retrofit reaps carbon-saving rewards In late 2023, Methanex New Zealand completed one of the country’s most significant carbon-saving projects to date. A complete retrofit of the methanol producer’s distillation columns in Motunui, north of New Plymouth, the emissions-reduction project can deliver annual savings of up to 50,000 tonnes of C02 – the equivalent of taking 20,000 cars off the road. The essence of the project was the intricate redesign of 88 distillation trays and the subsequent installation of the new trays inside the plant’s two 70m-high distillation columns. Methanex REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The cumulative effect of precisely controlling the flow of liquid and gas across each of the trays has resulted in a substantial increase in energy efficiency and carbon-saving. The refurbished columns are now able to distil all the crude methanol produced at the Motunui plant as distillation has increased by 25 percent. Methanex partnered with local firms DIALOG Fitzroy and Cunningham Construction Ltd to erect over 800sqm of scaffolding to get the job done safely, and making it the highest scaffolding structure in the country at the time. From the outset, Methanex’s international project team established its own strong culture, embedding collaboration and continuous innovation; a strategy that became integral to the project’s success. “The team worked hard throughout the planning phase to streamline complex tasks, and during the installation was empowered to identify improvements to make the most of technological, logistical and work opportunities,” says Methanex New Zealand’s managing director Stuart McCall. “Learnings were identified early and communicated quickly, resulting in substantial improvements in efficiency while maintaining world-class safety and quality. “The team worked hard throughout the planning phase to streamline complex tasks, and during the installation was empowered to identify improvements to make the most of technological, logistical and work opportunities.” W: www.jgp.co.nz E: info@jgp.co.nz T: 06 751 0720 A: Ngāmotu House, 139 Devon St W, New Plymouth Delivering Sustainable Project Success Specialised Project Management, Consultancy and Supervision Company Approved Methanex Professional Services Provider ∙ Biogas, biomethane and hydrogen ∙ Geothermal well & pipeline ∙ Emissions reduction ∙ Carbon capture & utilisation
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