MOL and Linde Engineering Digitalize Steam Cracker Plant Operations

Linde Engineering will install the software solution Linde Virtual Furnace on MOL’s steam crackers. The solution allows operators to benchmark actual operations against the optimum in real-time. MOL steam cracker plant’s virtual twin will monitor the plant’s operation performance and provide guidance to optimize production efficiency in real-time. As a result, Linde’s virtual steam cracker plant will help MOL to increase capacity and product quality while reducing energy consumption and emissions

“Digitalization is an incredible tool for improving operational efficiency. As such, alongside petrochemicals, it is an integral part of MOL Group’s 2030+ Strategy, and it will support us in reaching our vision – to be a highly efficient company and a key player in the low-carbon circular economy in Central and Eastern Europe. Given our 50-year-long successful collaboration, in Linde we have a reliable partner on our transformation journey,” stated Gabriel Szabó, Executive Vice President of MOL Group Downstream.

“We have shown time and time again how we can reduce costs and improve a plant’s environmental footprint with digital tools,” said Thomas Heinzerling, Senior VP Advanced Operations Services, Linde Engineering. “This collaboration will allow us to help MOL improve its operations and to fulfill its ambitious emission reduction goals.” The two companies are evaluating further opportunities to leverage digital solutions for MOL’s process operations in Tiszaújváros.

MOL selected Linde Engineering based on its proven experience gained through operating more than 1,000 process plants across 80 countries, the long-standing relationship since 1972 and the state-of-the-art steam cracking technologies. Linde Engineering built MOL’s first steam cracker plant in Tiszaújváros. Based on this successful project, the two companies established a close long-term cooperation. Linde Engineering was in charge of the plant’s reconstruction and lifetime extension, and in 2005, built the second steam cracker plant for MOL Petrochemicals.

About MOL Group

MOL Group is an international, integrated oil, gas, petrochemicals and consumer retail company, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. It is active in over 30 countries with a dynamic international workforce of 25,000 people and a track record of more than 100 years. MOL Group operates three refineries and two petrochemicals plants under integrated supply chain-management in Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, and owns a network of almost 2000 service stations across 10 countries in Central & South Eastern Europe. MOL’s exploration and production activities are supported by more than 85 years’ experience in the field of hydrocarbons and 30 years in the injection of CO2. At the moment, there are production activities in 9 countries and exploration assets in 14 countries.

MOL is committed to transform its traditional fossil-fuel-based operations into a low-carbon, sustainable business model and aspires to become net carbon neutral by 2050 while shaping the low-carbon circular economy in Central-and Eastern Europe. More information on MOL Group: www.molgroup.info