A shift in energy

Alevro recently commenced its onsite activities as part of a 30-week program, providing essential support to Kent Projects for the Ampol Future Fuels project.  

Alevro is supplying 36 lines of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) to aid Kent in its scope of work for the significant upgrade to the Ampol Lytton Refinery in Brisbane. 

The Future Fuels project itself has two primary outcomes. The first is to reduce the sulphur content in all grades of gasoline to less than ten parts per million, significantly lower than the current ~120ppm, in line with future, greener standards. Additionally, the upgrades are part of the Commonwealth Government’s Fuel Security Package, which aims to secure a baseline of domestic stock to help protect Australia from global supply disruptions. 

Kent, responsible for the construction and commissioning scope, will pre-construct modularised units overseas.  

"The modules being transported are up to 250 tonnes, 20m long, 12m wide and 15m tall, with some of the supporting items being transported up to 50m long," said Heavy Lift Project Manager Ross Atwood.  

These oversized modules are transported in “pancake” form for shipping and then moved by road to a staging area near the refinery. At this staging area, Alevro will assist with handling these pancake modules, refitting them on top of each other to rebuild them into the larger pre-assembled modular state. 

Once complete, the large modules are ready for transport using SPMTs, travelling approximately 1.5km to the site.  

"The heavier modules will rely on SPMT steering precision for alignment and trailer hydraulics to lower the module directly to foundations for installation. Once set to foundation or otherwise unloaded, the Alevro scope of handling is complete, and Kent will continue their efforts towards fit-out and commissioning," Ross added. 

The onsite crew will peak at ten people during day and night shift operations, supported by the usual home office functions.  

Ross highlighted the significance of this approach. 

"When used in the right situation, modularisation significantly benefits a construction project and can offer significant optimisation of key aspects such as time, safety, quality and cost. However, large scale modularisation is typically reserved for regional ports and regional sites where there is less infrastructure build-up restricting magnitude of envelope," Ross said.  

"It will be very interesting to see how effective the pancake style of modularisation ends up being for this project and if this style of constructability gains traction in future metropolitan projects across the country." 

Ross concluded by emphasising the project's strategic importance. 

"More specifically to the business, these works will continue to grow the Alevro and Monadelphous Heavy Lift portfolio on the East Coast as we cultivate future opportunities and growth."