The LPE unit is a technical unit on a petrochemical platform grouping together various process and instrumentation facilities, and is one of the platform's essential links. Its regular maintenance is crucial to guaranteeing overall site safety, reliability and performance. This is the background to the 2025 Major Technical Shutdown, which took place for the LPE unit between 28 April and 6 June on Gonfreville-l'Orcher industrial platform near Le Havre. 

Eiffage Énergie Systèmes provided the full range of industrial electrical and instrumentation (E&I) services for this strategic unit. Our teams were involved at all key stages of the shutdown: 

• - Complete preparation of shutdown services on the LPE unit  

• - Installing temporary equipment  

• - Removing and replacing radioactive sources  

• - Checking and testing alarms, sensors and safety systems  

• - Industrial electrical and instrumentation shutdown work  

• - Technical contingency management and real-time adaptation  

• - Improvement and upgrading work  

• - Restart assistance, until the unit is fully back in service  

• - Overhaul of automatic valves in our workshops.  

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This project demonstrated our ability to mobilize skilled staff quickly (up to forty people at the height of the shutdown) and our reliable expertise in industrial electricity and instrumentation. It also marked a significant step forward in our efforts to gain a foothold on the Normandy platform petrochemical site, located opposite the refinery, consolidating our position in this strategic area. 

The shutdown went off without a hitch thanks to stringent organization, risk management and our teams' steadfast commitment. This success illustrates Eiffage Energie Systèmes' ability to manage complex technical shutdowns in sensitive environments.  
 

(*)LPE : Linear Polyethylene. The LPE unit uses ethylene to produce high-density plastics used in the manufacture of PVC pipes.