ABB to Supply 1km of Intelligent Switchgear for Yara’s Fertiliser Plant

$25 million project will support leading fertiliser company Yara to ensure highest levels of safety and reliability

ABB, the global leader in power and automation technologies, announced today that it will supply MNS® low voltage switchgear to upgrade a production plant of Yara, the leading global fertiliser company in Porsgrunn, Norway.

The MNS® low voltage switchgear would cover a distance of more than a kilometre if stood end to end. ABB has booked first orders under the frame agreement in the first quarter of 2015.

Communications protocols are embedded within the switchgear optimising electrical distribution performance and condition based monitoring while providing detailed process and electrical information to plant operators in real time.

“As part of our Next Level Strategy, we are committed to work with our customers to continuously improve their productivity through the application of intelligent solutions realising the benefits of the Internet of Things, Services and People,” said Tarak Mehta, president of the Low Voltage Products division of ABB.

The switchgear will increase electrical safety and support the reliable distribution of power, improved control and more efficient operation of a plant with more than 6,000 electric motors. ABB has an existing agreement to supply motors and drives to Yara.

This ABB delivery supports another program Yara has initiated to increase production of fertiliser at the facility in Porsgrunn with 50,000 tons and production of calcium nitrate rising to 200,000 tons per annum. The project will take up to seven years to complete, with a total investment of $270 million.

The low voltage power distribution will be designed and manufactured for Yara’s specific requirements and will be supplied from ABB’s low voltage systems unit based in Skien, Norway.

Reliability, availability, ease of maintenance and safety are important criteria for ABB`s customers for their plant assets. ABB has installed millions of MNS switchgear globally in some of the world’s harshest environments in applications on land, offshore and ships for more than 40 years.