Cargill Gearing Up to Launch Biodiesel Plant in Belgium

Belgium: Sarens, an industry leader in heavy lifting and engineering transport, teamed up with Cargill in June 2021 to help maintain and repair its infrastructure at Ghent, Belgium. The new Biodiesel processing plant startup in June 2022 has since become a European reference for recycling of cooking oils, Tallow and edible oil production waste into Biodiesel – helping to reduce the carbon footprint of maritime and road transport.

Sarens recently completed several activities to remove an engine from the Ghent plant that is utilized in the transesterification process of fats - a reaction used to convert the oils found in fats into Biodiesel. This removal was necessary to proceed with the overhaul and disassembly of the engine and drive shaft.

Sarens had to remove a concrete panel on top of the motor, located in one of the ATEX zones and in a very limited space, in order to gain access. To do this, they used an LTM1150 crane with a maximum capacity of 150 tonnes. Once the concrete panel was safely removed, the technical team began disassembling the motor so it could be lifted by the crane for its mechanical overhaul.

The technical team undertook a series of operations which required them to work around cable trays and piping. Once these operations were completed, they returned the unit to its original location and put the concrete panel back on top.

According to Karel Storm, Sarens Depot Manager in Ghent: "The success of this project is due to the fact that our team always finds all the necessary cooperation from Cargill. As this is a recurring task and because we have the right machinery, both teams work perfectly together to reduce the downtime of each unit as much as possible, thus optimising production”.

Sarens has built a strong reputation for its international experience in the hydrocarbon processing sector, which can be seen through its numerous collaborations around the world. It recently constructed the Corpus Christi Polymers' oil derivatives processing plant in Texas, US, renovated IRPC's DCC cyclone reactor in Thailand, and upgraded PT Pertamina's refinery in Balikpapan, Indonesia.