OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2010. The Moscow Refinery–Yokogawa Technical Center was opened at the Moscow Refinery on. The center was established in cooperation with the Japanese Yokogawa Electric Corporation. Gazprom Neft Deputy CEO for Logistics, Processing and Sales Anatoly Cherner and President of Yokogawa Electric Corporation Shuzo Kaihori took part in the opening ceremony for the Moscow Refinery – Yokogawa Center.

The key purpose of the Technical Center at the Moscow Refinery is to create a modern process and production control system on the basis of advanced information technologies using Yokogawa equipment and software. As part of its operation, the Technical Center will also train Automated Process Control Systems engineers of the Moscow Refinery to operate the new equipment and will provide process unit simulators for operator training.

As the final result, the Technical Center will train the personnel of the Moscow Refinery to establish a single production control center, i.e. a consolidated control room of the Moscow Refinery, to enhance operational control efficiency, provide for effective process monitoring, and minimize the probability of accidents at the refinery. The project is implemented as part of a large-scale modernization program for the Moscow Refinery, which includes upgrading of the existing facilities and construction of new refining facilities, process safety improvement, and implementation of ecological projects at the refinery.

The opening of the Technical Center at the Moscow Refinery is one of the stages of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Gazprom Neft and Yokogawa Electric Corporation signed in July 2008.