4,500 tonne UK ammonia plant dismantled for reassembly overseas

Bristol, UK – A complex programme of plant decommissioning, isolation, demolition and ground remediation recently reached a close at GrowHow UK Ltd’s Severnside site, under the guidance of project management consultants and CDM coordinators RVA Group.

Having supervised more than 60,000 man-hours during the initial project - RVA has now been engaged by both GrowHow and American assets company Sigma Investment Holdings LLC to co-ordinate the dismantling and packaging of two remaining LCA (leading concept ammonia) plants and a utilities area. The units have been bought by Sigma for resale outside of the UK.

Following two months of RVA planning, specialist dismantling contractor EDS has been appointed by Sigma to begin the meticulous process of coding, extracting and preserving every single vessel and associated pipework for exportation.

With work on site due to complete in August, this exacting project will then result in the shipping of 4,500 tonnes of ammonia production plant, in no less than 120 containers, 60 enclosed crates, 80 open stillages plus 30 outsize items of deck cargo, all ready for reassembly and return to production once it reaches its overseas destination.

“We have been employed in two capacities at Severnside. GrowHow has engaged us as specialist project managers to ensure that the high standards adopted on site to date are maintained, with no cut corners and no safety compromises,” said RVA managing director Richard Vann.

“Sigma meanwhile has appointed us as CDM co-ordinators. There is a legal requirement for CDM-C, although Sigma was not obliged to choose RVA. However they have because of our specific knowledge of this site and our strong background in the field, for example we supervised the sequential dismantling, for relocation, of a 6,500 tonne papermaking machine in Aberdeenshire in 2008.

“It is rare for one consultancy to be appointed for both roles and there are those who might question how we could effectively represent both clients. Yet in reality it works very well because it ensures a co-ordinated approach, with common standards and universal protection of interests in a collaborative environment.”

Using the original construction designs and drawings, the team has prepared intricate methodology and processes for dismantling each individual component and match-marking it with codes for ease and accuracy of reconstruction.

With a small footprint of only 100m square in total, the specialist plant is ideal for producing ammonia in a restricted area.

Vann concluded: “It is fortunate that the drawings are of a high standard, as this gives us a clear indication of the dimensions and weights we are dealing with - up to 116 tonnes. The biggest challenge is the logistics of actually moving people and machinery around such a restricted space.