26.06.2015

Mammoet completes plant move

Mammoet has completed the relocation of a methanol plant from Punta Arenas, Chile to Geismar, Louisiana.

The company was subcontracted by Jacobs Engineering group to assist in the heavy lifts, heavy haul and transport of the methanol plant over a distance of 5,450 miles.
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The methanol plant is dismantled in Chile

Methanex, the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol, made the decision to relocate a second plant from Chile to Louisiana in 2013. Mammoet supported Jacobs with the modularization of the originally stick-built facility to ensure compatibility with the lifting and transport equipment available. The plant had a combined weight of 183,556 tonnes. Challenges included loading in the Magellan Strait and heavy transport over roads and bridges and the offloading in Louisiana, where a custom bridge had to be engineered to cross the Mississippi River levee.
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The move over 5,450 miles included many challenges, in one case requiring the creation of a temporary bridge

During the course of the project, Mammoet lifted over 350 heavy components and modules and set them up for reassembly. Mammoet also managed sub-contractors, secured permits and maintained full oversight over the transport operation.
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The plant is re-assembled in Louisiana