Wood awarded contract for refinery upgrades in Colombia – chemengonline.com

Wood plc Awarded Contract for Clean Fuels Upgrade at Barrancabermeja Refinery, Colombia

Project Overview

Wood plc (Aberdeen, U.K.; www.woodplc.com) has secured a contract from Ecopetrol, Colombia’s majority state-owned oil company, to provide detailed engineering design services for upgrades at the Barrancabermeja refinery. The project, named Línea Base de Calidad de Combustibles (LBCC) or Clean Fuels, focuses on enhancing fuel quality and environmental performance at the facility.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This initiative supports several key SDGs, including:

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – By redesigning refinery infrastructure to produce cleaner fuels, the project promotes sustainable energy production.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The upgrade modernizes a century-old refinery, fostering innovation and resilient infrastructure.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – The project contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by lowering gasoline sulfur content and supporting Ecopetrol’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Improved fuel quality will enhance air quality in central Colombia, reducing pollution-related health risks.

Project Details and Impact

• Objective: To significantly reduce gasoline sulfur content in line with Colombia’s national environmental targets.
• Scope: Redesign of refinery infrastructure at Barrancabermeja, Colombia’s primary refining center responsible for over 40% of the country’s fuel consumption.
• Timeline: First production of cleaner gasoline expected by 2030.
• Workforce: Over 250 Wood employees dedicated to delivering the project.

Statements from Leadership

John Day, President of Projects Western Hemisphere at Wood, emphasized the importance of the project in balancing energy security with environmental responsibility:

“Cleaner fuels are critical as we balance the need for energy security with a lower carbon future. Wood’s redesign of the Barrancabermeja refinery is crucial to Ecopetrol’s 2050 goal of net-zero emissions.”

He further highlighted Wood’s longstanding partnership with Ecopetrol:

“We have a two-decade history of partnering with Ecopetrol and for the past five years, we have been dedicated to upgrading the clean fuels program. We have a deep understanding of the schedule and delivery requirements to meet Ecopetrol’s goals and enhance air quality in central Colombia.”

Conclusion

The LBCC project at Barrancabermeja refinery represents a significant step toward Colombia’s sustainable energy transition. By focusing on cleaner fuel production and environmental improvements, the project directly supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals, advancing both national and global commitments to climate action and sustainable industrial development.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses upgrading refinery infrastructure to produce cleaner fuels, which relates to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The engineering design and refinery upgrades highlight innovation and infrastructure development in the energy sector.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The project supports Ecopetrol’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, aligning with climate action efforts to combat climate change and its impacts.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Improving fuel quality and reducing sulfur content contributes to better air quality, which benefits public health.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7: Target 7.2 – Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • While the article focuses on cleaner fossil fuels rather than renewables, the reduction of sulfur content and cleaner fuels contribute to cleaner energy production.
2. SDG 9: Target 9.4 – Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
   • The refinery redesign and upgrades directly relate to this target.
3. SDG 13: Target 13.2 – Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Ecopetrol’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 reflects integration of climate action into corporate and national planning.
4. SDG 3: Target 3.9 – Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Reducing sulfur content in fuels improves air quality, thereby reducing health risks.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for SDG 7.2:
   • Proportion of energy from cleaner fuels or fuels with reduced sulfur content (implied by the refinery’s production of cleaner gasoline).
2. Indicator for SDG 9.4:
   • Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of value added (implied by the goal of net-zero emissions and refinery upgrades).
3. Indicator for SDG 13.2:
   • Number of countries with national policies that integrate climate change measures (implied by Ecopetrol’s alignment with national targets and net-zero goals).
4. Indicator for SDG 3.9:
   • Concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the air (implied by the reduction of gasoline sulfur content to improve air quality).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: chemengonline.com