ASSETS solution provider Vivablast is employing Konecranes CXT lifting technology to help achieve optimum safety and efficiency in processing componentry for the multi-billion dollar Nghi Son petroleum refinery being built in Than Hoa Province south of Hanoi in Vietnam.

Vivablast’s facility at Thanh Hoa in Vietnam where Konecranes’ CXT technology processes oil and gas infrastructure.

Vivablast, which has more than 15 years’ experience in major South East Asian construction and maintenance projects in diverse industrial sectors, compared the quality, reliability and service backing of major crane brands before selecting CXT technology for its blasting and painting facility near the site of the new refinery.

“We compared many crane types and found Konecranes suited our needs best. Also, importantly, the equipment is backed up by comprehensive global maintenance services,” says Vivablast project manager Ravindar Harimoorthy.

The 10-ton CXT crane is used to move piping and infrastructure components within the plant and during loading out operations.

“It is easy to operate and safe,” he says, with pendant control and optimum dimensions for effective load handling providing the efficiency required by Vivablast, which manages programs, extending from construction phase to maintenance programs, shutdowns and outages, during which it designs and executes the optimum technical solutions to maximise industrial assets life.

The user-friendly design of the CXT means Vivablast can perform some routine maintenance tasks on-site to optimise uptime, while Konecranes is on hand locally to back up with bigger jobs when and if required. The CXT has performed well during the year in which it has been in service and can be relocated in the future for further service.

Nghi Son refinery is expected to cost US$9 billion and is scheduled for completion in 2017. It will have a designed capacity of 10 million tonnes of crude oil per year with the possibility to increase capacity to 20 million tonnes. The refinery project will also include petrochemical complex, energy facilities, pipeline and storage systems.

In addition to LPG, unleaded gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oils, the refinery is projected to produce bitumen, propylene and BTX for the petrochemical industry.

The refinery is being designed and built by a syndicate of EPC contractors including JGC Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation from Japan, GS Engineering & Construction Corporation and SK Engineering & Construction Co from South Korea, Technip from France and Malaysia’s Technip Geoproduction.