Neste Oil has successfully started up Europe's largest renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Official opening of the plant is celebrated today, December 19th, 2011. Metso has delivered comprehensive automation and safety solutions for the greenfield plant, which was commissioned in September 2011.

''The Rotterdam plant is a significant milestone in Neste Oil's cleaner traffic strategy and consolidates the company's position as the world's leading producer of renewable diesel. We are proud to be chosen a partner for this demanding project, where high automation reliability and safety as well as demanding operational features cannot be excessively emphasized, '' says Kari Karppinen, Sales Director, Automation business line, Metso.

Metso's delivery scope included two Metso DNA automation systems; one for the NExtBTL process and another for the Utilities processes. The delivery also included several DCS integrated safety systems, field equipment maintenance tools and process history data storage, trending and reporting applications with remote access possibilities.

Metso has a long and extensive experience in automation solutions for oil refineries and petro- chemical plants. Earlier Metso has delivered similar automation solutions for Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel plant in Singapore and several DCS/SIS installations in the Neste Oil's both refineries Porvoo and Naantali, Finland. Neste Oil and Metso collaboration is continu-ing further acc. to the Frame Agreement signed in autumn 2011.

The Rotterdam plant has a capacity of 800,000 t/a and will increase Neste Oil's total renewable diesel capacity to 2 million t/a. Utilizing Neste Oil's proprietary NExBTL technology, the plant can make flexible use of almost any vegetable oil or waste fat in the production of premium-quality renewable diesel. Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel is a premium fuel that is compatible with all diesel engines and existing fuel distribution systems. NExBTL helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-80% compared to fossil diesel.

State-of-the-art features in operator interfaces, diagnostics and system interfaces

"We have been working in close cooperation with Neste Oil and Technip Italy, the EPCM contractor for the site. The automation systems include many state-of-the-art features in operator interfaces, diagnostics and system interfaces jointly developed by Neste Oil and Metso", Kari Karppinen explains.

One of these features is the comprehensive use of HART data. The HART Protocol is a bi-directional communication protocol that provides data access between intelligent field instruments and the automation system.

At the NExBTL plant, each available HART measurement has been made accessible to the operators. These digital measurements give valuable and accurate information for the demanding process control. In addition, the HART Protocol enables field device configuration, versatile diagnostics and troubleshooting.

As for user interfaces and reporting tools, much emphasis has been put on their design and usability. Each process display has been carefully designed in collaboration with the plant operators to provide vital process information clearly and effectively. The user interface also seamlessly combines the tools needed for process disturbance analysis, trending and other process history analyzing tasks.

Furthermore these information tools can be accessed remotely e.g. production efficiency and performance reports can be viewed at Neste Oil headquarters in Espoo, Finland.

Another Metso product delivered to the site is the Metso DNA Field Device Manager, which makes field device management easier and more efficient by providing easy remote field device configuration, calibration and tuning. Online device condition monitoring ensures continuous information on device diagnostics and supports proactive field asset management. It also helps control device performance monitoring and the planning as well as optimization of maintenance work.

Neste Oil in brief

Neste Oil produces a comprehensive range of major petroleum products and is the world's leading supplier of renewable diesel. Neste Oil has been selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and is featured in the Ethibel Excellence investment register. The company is featured in The Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable corporations; and Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) has ranked Neste Oil as the best performer in the oil & gas sector. www.nesteoil.com.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 29,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

Metso's automation professionals specialize in process industry flow control solutions, automation and information management systems and applications, and life cycle services. Main products include for example control valves, automation systems, quality control systems and measurement solutions.

For more information please contact:

Kari Karppinen, Sales Director, Automation business line, Metso kari.karppinen@metso.com,
Tel. +358 400 638 531