Nairobi, Kenya, 27 Oct 2011
Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL) has implemented a new solution from IBM to increase the productivity and efficiency of the company's oil refinery operations in East Africa.
The solution, based on IBM Maximo asset management software, will allow KPRL to better utilise its production equipment, facilities and IT systems to reduce risk and control costs. The agreement was finalised by IBM's business partners Computer Source Point and Powertech IST Data.
Companies in the oil and gas industry are under increasing pressure to meet targets, reduce production costs, and maintain the highest safety and environmental standards - all in the face of uncertain market conditions.
In order to achieve operational excellence and increase availability and reliability, organisations require solutions that improve communication and collaboration with suppliers and partners. The new IBM solution will allow KPRL to manage, measure and track the life cycle of its oil processing equipment such as pipes, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, boilers, furnaces, compressors, tanks and turbines.
“By implementing advanced technology solutions, we are able to increase efficiency and competitiveness in all areas, including safety, quality, customer service and profitability,” said Richard Tairo, IT Manager at KPRL. “IBM Maximo is a best-of-breed solution with a strong heritage in the oil and gas sector, and will allow us to streamline and automate our key business processes.”
“KPRL wanted to have a centralised overview of their assets for operational management purposes and needed a solution that would fit the oil and gas industry. They are now able to manage all of their infrastructure assets in one solution, increase the productivity of existing assets, while reducing risk and controlling operating costs,” said Paul Taylor, Project Manager for Powertech IST Data.
With the new solution, KPRL will be able to improve and extend the life of its assets and minimise its operating costs, as well as provide tools for measuring and analysing business performance. Most importantly, business capital will be freed through improved inventory and procurement management, reducing KPRL's obsolete and duplicate stock - a significant problem within the refining industry.
“IBM is working with clients and partners in the oil and gas sector around the world to transform their operations and do things smarter,” said Anthony Mwai, Country General Manager, IBM East Africa. “Key to the transformation of the oil and gas sector is the ability to take a more data-driven, preventative approach to the management of operational equipment. Using business analytics technologies to increase the manageability of valuable assets, companies in the oil and gas industry can increase the reliability of their services and improve their competitive position.”
KPRL serves the Kenyan market with a range of oil products, including liquefied petroleum gas, unleaded premium gasoline, regular petrol, automotive gas oil, industrial diesel, fuel oil, and special products like bitumen and grease. KPRL has two refinery complexes in Mombasa, Kenya, with a four million metric ton per annum capacity. The refinery, which is the only such facility in East Africa, has distillation, hydro treating, catalytic reforming and bitumen production capabilities.
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