Petrochem woes compounded by spare parts shortage, claims report
16 Apr 2024
Spare parts sourcing for cooling, heating, steam and compressed air equipment is becoming more problematic for process firms in the UK and western Europe, claims a new Aggreko survey.
The company says that its poll of more than 600 engineers from the UK, Germany, France and the Benelux region revealed that, on average, over half of respondents said they were facing difficulties.
Furthermore, research carried out by partner Censa, suggested majority of process engineers reported issues sourcing spare parts for temperature control equipment at petrochemical plants and refineries, suggesting seasonal demand later this year could disrupt operations, claims Aggreko.
The statistics, which underpin Aggreko’s new Process Matters white papers, revealed ageing process and temperature control equipment was an issue in all sectors surveyed. The average age of current solutions was at least five years.
The firm’s Petrochemical and refining sector leader – Europe Jordi Camanyes acknowledged that the European petrochemical sector was affected by a variety of fluctuating factors, notably rising feedstock costs and volatile oil and gas pricing.
“Yet certain constants remain, including that it will get colder in the winter. Petrochemical plants should therefore adapt their temperature control arrangements accordingly,” he cautioned.
“As our most recent reports clearly identify, the heating and cooling equipment currently used in refineries are of advanced age, with all the wear-and-tear and potential downtime that entails. Yet though problems sourcing spare parts may create a more challenging situation, there are also clear opportunities for improvement.”
An additional pressure on equipment upgrade budgets is sustainability-driven legislation, says Aggreko in its report. These include the European Union transition pathway for petrochemicals, and new Energy Efficiency Directives.
Pic: Marcin Jozwiak
