Neste to invest over 400-million euros in Porvoo refinery-maintenance turnaround

Neste Corp. announced June 30 that it will conduct an approximately nine-week maintenance turnaround at its Porvoo refinery in Finland between August and October.

Fuel deliveries to customers will continue throughout the maintenance turnaround.

The refinery turnaround will ensure the plant’s safety, availability and competitiveness, according to Neste.

The turnaround will focus on tasks that require a refinery shutdown, including statutory inspections, routine maintenance and asset-improvement initiatives.

Maintenance turnarounds are typically held every two-and-a-half to three years, Neste said.

“This is a major project with a total estimated cost of over 400-million euros (USD$455.8 million),” said Jim Holmbäck, Neste’s director of turnarounds. “A total of around 7,500 people will participate in the work. Around 1,000 of them are Neste’s own employees, and the rest are experts from more than a hundred different contractor companies. Over 80 percent of the selected contractor companies are Finnish.”

Specialized experts from various fields, such as catalyst professionals, will arrive in Finland from countries including Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the U.K.

The turnaround will have no impact on customer deliveries, according to Neste.

Security of supply is guaranteed by producing and storing goods in advance, which enables uninterrupted sales and distribution even during maintenance work, the company stated.

The Kilpilahti port and the Porvoo distribution terminal will operate normally throughout the turnaround.

The turnaround will significantly increase traffic in the area.

Due to the large number of workers, special traffic arrangements will be implemented in the Kilpilahti area.

Neste said it aims to minimize the disturbances caused by the turnaround to local residents and other traffic.

Short-term flaring and potential noise disruption may occur in the surrounding area during both the shutdown and start-up of the refinery.

“Neste’s goal is to ensure fuel distribution to customers as well as the safety and well-being of employees, service providers and partners throughout the turnaround,” Holmbäck said.