Neste is the world’s largest producer of biofuels, including renewable diesel. Following a positive experience with KH Engineering during the expansion of their tank terminal in Vlaardingen, Neste engaged KH Engineering to support the development and execution of their project portfolio in the Netherlands.
Martijn van Toledo works as Project Department Manager at Neste in the Netherlands. Prior to joining Neste, he spent 22 years in the oil and gas industry, with 15 years dedicated to project development and execution. In 2021, he embarked on a career at Neste, which was then initiating a major project to double its production capacity in Rotterdam. In his daily role, he shares responsibility for overseeing KH Engineering.
Safe and reliable
‘My department’s role is to support the production sites’, Martijn explains succinctly. ‘We ensure the safe and reliable operation of all our production facilities, forming an integral part of the production organisation. I firmly believe that when operations are safe and reliable, refineries perform as intended, making business cases almost a given. Of course, market conditions play a role, but the long-term outlook is that the demand for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will only continue to rise. It is no coincidence that Neste has made a multi-billion investment in Rotterdam to expand our production capacity at the Tweede Maasvlakte.’
Trust
‘A key aspect of our relationship with service providers is their shared focus on safety and reliability’, Martijn continues. ‘As part of the expansion of our production capacity at the Maasvlakte, we also needed to increase our storage capacity at our terminal in Vlaardingen. For this, we enlisted KH Engineering as our EPCm contractor. The collaboration worked well and built trust. As a result, we converted the partnership into a framework agreement last year.’
Substantial support
This agreement was no coincidence. ‘While we possess significant in-house expertise’, Martijn notes, ‘the scale of our total project portfolio requires substantial engineering support. We sought a partner who aligns with our compliance standards and safety and reliability norms, and we found that in KH Engineering. The framework agreement eliminates the need to tender every engineering project, which makes the process much more efficient.’
Understanding the client
‘An engineering firm must empathise with the client and understand the operational context’, Martijn asserts. ‘Close collaboration is key. KH Engineering has developed an in-depth understanding of our installations, production processes, and engineering standards. Currently, they primarily provide support in basic and detailed engineering, with occasional procurement services (purchasing of components).’
Growth
To enable growth, Neste acquired the adjacent Bunge biorefinery in Rotterdam in 2021. This facility includes a pre-treatment plant, tank storage, jetties, and a pipeline connection to Neste’s site. ‘Integrating this site with our existing and new production lines in Rotterdam is a massive undertaking’, Martijn shares. ‘Foreseeing this workload, we enlisted KH Engineering’s support.’
Hand-in-hand
Continuous engineering support from KH Engineering is highly valued. ‘We work hand-in-hand with KH Engineering to ensure adequate capacity and further professionalisation’, Martijn says. ‘I am satisfied with the collaboration. They provide the capacity we need by delivering professional engineers. Moreover, we place great value on the alignment in safety and reliability in the way we work. KH Engineering is a dependable engineering partner who understands our needs. This mutual understanding is critical as we move towards integrated engineering teams, involving KH Engineering early in projects to secure continuity and knowledge transfer.’
First time right
Engineering quality must ensure ‘first time right’ outcomes, enabling Neste to produce quickly, safely, and reliably. ‘Engineering must align with these principles’, Martijn states. ‘This approach drives true success. KH Engineering’s experts understand our engineering standards, and as long as they maintain their ‘first time right’ mindset, we’ll achieve great results. Their familiarity with our site and close collaboration on ongoing matters bring tangible value. The framework agreement also facilitates regular on-site presence, enhancing their understanding of our installations. Together, we’re steadily advancing towards doubling our production capacity and enhancing flexibility between biodiesel and SAF production.’
For more information about Neste: www.neste.com
Neste views the energy transition as a tremendous opportunity. As the world’s largest producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel (HVO100), and renewable feedstock solutions for polymer and chemical applications, Neste operates in Rotterdam, Singapore, and Finland. The refinery expansion in Rotterdam will increase its production capacity for renewable products in Rotterdam to 2.7 million tonnes annually. By the end of 2026, Neste aims for a global annual production capacity of 6.8 million tonnes of renewable products.