Control Systems Order Won for One of the World’s Largest Methanol Plants

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (the Netherlands) has announced  its subsidiary, Yokogawa Corporation of America, has received an order from Orascom E&C USA to deliver control and safety systems for the Natgasoline LLC methanol plant. Currently under construction in Beaumont, Texas, this facility will have a capacity of approximately 1.75 million metric tons per year when it starts production in 2017, making it one of the world’s largest methanol plants. Based on nameplate capacity, it will be the largest methanol plant in the United States.

For the process control and safety of the Lurgi MegaMethanol process technology and auxiliary facilities throughout this plant, Yokogawa will deliver the CENTUM VP integrated production control system, ProSafe(R)-RS safety instrumented system, Exaquantum plant information management system, and Plant Resource Manager (PRM) software package. Yokogawa Corporation of America will be responsible for the engineering and delivery of these systems, and will provide support with installation and commissioning. The delivery of all systems will be completed by August 2016.

Yokogawa won this order because of its excellent track record in completing projects and demonstrated ability to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions that help optimise operations.

"Yokogawa entered the U.S. market in 1957 and we have grown our business across diverse markets, but have had particular success in oil and gas refining and offshore production, LNG liquefaction and chemical manufacturing. We are proud to win the first order for a new U.S. grass roots methanol plant that exceeds a million metric tons per year. This project allows us to build on our already extensive track record in executing and maintaining methanol production in North America", says Daniel Duncan, President and CEO of Yokogawa Corporation of America.

Though the chemical industry in the U.S. has long relied on imported methanol, the amount of methanol produced in the U.S. is steadily increasing due to the ready availability of ethane produced from domestically sourced shale gas. Leveraging its project experience, Yokogawa will capitalise on this opportunity to expand its control business in North America and other key markets.