- In late 2015, a fire damaged the plant's energy supply, halting production.
- Repairs included a new e-system and modern facilities, completed in just over five months.
- Sitech Services played a crucial role in providing temporary and permanent solutions.
- The loading facility's capacity was increased to 1.5 million tonnes per year.
Incident and Immediate Response
In late 2015, a fire caused significant damage to the fertilizer plant in Geleen, primarily affecting the cellar space used for loading fertilizer. The heat from the fire destroyed the energy supply system, leading to a complete power failure. This halted production and caused lighting and computer failures, creating a challenging atmosphere in the offices. Plant manager Jos Claassen cut short his holiday to return and manage the crisis.
Resilience and Recovery
Despite the initial setback, the team demonstrated resilience and hard work, leading to the creation of a state-of-the-art plant. A key aspect of the recovery was the replacement of the entire e-system. Remarkably, fertilizer production resumed in just over five months. Effective cooperation with technical service provider Sitech Services was crucial in achieving this milestone, as they provided both temporary and permanent solutions and quickly adapted to supply the necessary personnel.
Facility Upgrades
Temporary logistics facilities were used when production restarted. The old loading facility, dating back to the 1960s, was completely renewed during the repair work. The new facility now has a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of fertilizer per year and features powerful extraction systems, ergonomic design, energy-efficient LED lighting, and various safety measures including cameras and a sprinkler system. The previously dusty cellar has been transformed into a clean, modern working environment.
Modernized Energy Supply
The plant's electricity supply, which was over 50 years old, was also upgraded. The old system, with its numerous cables, distributors, and transformers, was replaced by two modern transmitter spaces set up separately from the plant. These new spaces include comprehensive safety measures such as cameras, ventilation systems, and fire alarms. With the help of contractors and Sitech Services, the plant and its production are now fully operational again.
