Metso, Siemens to equip $3bn pulp plant
9 Dec 2011
Helsinki / São Paulo - Suzano Papel e Celulose is investing $3-billion (Euro2.3 billion) to establish a major pulp production unit at Imperatriz, Maranhão state in north east Brazil - a project that has provided major contracts for Metso and Siemens.
Suzano has awarded Metso a contract, worth around Euro1 billion, to serve as the main technology supplier for the massive bleached-eucalyptus pulp facility. The plant, which is due for start-up in November 2013, will have a capacity of 1.5 million tones/year, said Suzano Pulp & Paper, which claims to be the world’s second largest eucalyptus pulp producer and the ninth largest market pulp producer.
The company said it has long-term contracts with international customers for output from the Maranhão facility. Two Siemens turbo generators will power the mill, which is expected to generate a 100MW surplus for sale to external customers.
The project, which also involves a Euro420-million investment in forestry development, is part of the Brazil group’s plans to increase pulp production from the current 2.9 million tonnes/year to 7.2 million tonnes/year by 2015. Suzano’s expansion programme also includes constructing two other new industrial plants - one at Piauí, Brazil, the other at a yet-to-be-decided location.
Metso is to supply a complete automation solution for the Maranhão pulp mill. Its DNA control system is intended to provide a single platform for all plant requirements, such as all types of controls and asset management solutions. This encompasses wood handling, cooking and fiberline, pulp drying and baling, evaporation plant, recovery boiler, white liquor plant and power boiler.
The control system includes a common user interface, alarm, event and operator tracking handling, as well as common history data collection and trending and engineering tools, said Mikko Toivonen, director, Metso DNA for P&P at Metso Automation.
This “complete solution” will simplify project interfaces and responsibilities and lower Capex. Toivonen explained during a recent automation technology seminar at Metso’s valves centre in Helsinki. The approach, he said, also offers faster start-up and learning curve, as well as an earlier return on investment.
Metso will also supply internal plant systems, including pulp dryers include quality measurement system; basis weight and moisture; profilers and steambox. The order includes condition monitoring systems to tracks vibration and line performance, a camera system to monitor web running, and a bale quality management system.
The Finnish group will install analyser and measurement systems, such as Kappa, pH, brightness & residuals, consistency & conductivity, dirt count and residual alkali, and on/off and control valves actuators and positioners.
Another element of the contract, said Toivonen, is for Metso to supply specialists for each aspect of the operation.
Under a global services agreement with Metso, a service center will be established near the new pulp mill. Its activities will encompass a range of issues, including safety, environmental, predictive maintenance, inventory management and cost management.
The project will also employ an integrated management model, in which strategic-level decisions will be made by Suzano and Metso commitees. They will direct a management team including a Suzano maintenance manager, with a Metso site manager in charge of operational departments, such as maintenance, service and technology.
