Honeywell signs 10 year agreement with QAFCO
November 2012
News
The Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) has renewed a contract with Honeywell to provide safety and automation systems for its existing plants, expansion projects and future projects. The agreement – one of the longest duration agreements of its kind to be signed in the Middle East – is for 10 years with an option to extend for an additional four.
Long-term agreement will provide QAFCO with optimised automation technology to support business growth plans.
QAFCO was founded in 1969 as Qatar’s first large-scale venture to support diversification of the country’s economy whilst using extensive natural gas reserves. After successfully implementing several expansion projects over the past three decades, it has evolved into a world-class fertiliser producer currently exporting ammonia and urea to more than 35 countries.
“The partnership with Honeywell is built on mutual trust and respect,” says Khalifa Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QAFCO. “For our greenfield sites, we will deploy Honeywell’s Advanced Process Control and Operator Trainer Simulator technologies to optimise process performance and workforce training. For our brownfield sites, we will receive risk-free project implementation of the latest technology, backed up by long-term support at overall lower cost of ownership.”
“We are delighted to see our close relationship with QAFCO continue to grow,” says Orhan Genis, vice president-sales, Honeywell Process Solutions, EMEA. “This renewal of an existing nine-year agreement confirms that this partnership is a win-win for both parties. QAFCO receives the best technology with low cost of ownership and long-term support, while Honeywell continues as the preferred automation partner.”
The agreement covers six ammonia plants, six urea plants and a melamine plant, and will involve the provision of Honeywell’s DCS, emergency shutdown system and advanced application systems such as plant information management systems, laboratory information management, APC and operator training simulators.
Such long-term agreements are rare for companies in the Middle East, making this latest contract a significant show of faith in Honeywell’s industrial technology. Honeywell is unique amongst automation suppliers to the fertiliser industry in that it owns and operates an ammonia plant, which combined with its deep domain experience over decades of experience in designing, installing and maintaining automation systems for petrochemical manufacturers, provides QAFCO with a highly experienced automation partner.
For more information contact Boni Magudulela, Honeywell Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 695 8000, [email protected], www.honeywell.co.za
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