Schneider Electric Secures Major Automation Deal for Petrobras Refinery Expansion
The partnership centers on the technical integration of Foxboro distributed control systems and Triconex safety instrumented systems into a singular operational environment. By bridging the gap between the refinery's electrical SCADA network and its process automation layer, Schneider Electric is enabling Petrobras to achieve a "single pane of glass" view of its operations. This synergy is critical for the Rnest Train 2 expansion, which includes new atmospheric distillation and delayed coking units designed to boost the national supply of low-sulfur S10 diesel. The transition to this interoperable architecture allows engineering teams to monitor process fluctuations and electrical grid stability on a synchronized timeline, drastically reducing the window for fault diagnosis and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) response.
Further enhancing the project's technological footprint is the implementation of the EcoStruxure Power & Process platform, combined with industrial software from Aveva. This stack provides Petrobras with the foundation for predictive analytics software and AI-driven optimization, aligning with the oil major’s $109 billion strategic capex plan through 2030. Beyond the hardware, the scope includes specialized industrial cybersecurity services and technical training to ensure that the workforce can navigate the complexities of modern PLC and robotic integrations. By modernizing the Rnest refinery with these integrated solutions, Schneider Electric is demonstrating how the fusion of energy management and automation can drive down capital costs while meeting increasingly stringent environmental and reliability standards in the global downstream sector.
Written by: Julian Vance Julian Vance is an automation systems architect with over 14 years of experience specializing in OT/IT convergence and B2B industrial software deployments. He has consulted on numerous large-scale energy projects, focusing on the lifecycle management of critical infrastructure and advanced control logic.