GS Caltex announced on July 16 that it has completed its major maintenance work (TA) at the Yeosu plant for the first half of 2026.
TA involves halting operations at refining and petrochemical plants to inspect key production facilities and replace aging parts and consumables as part of regular maintenance.
From May, GS Caltex conducted major maintenance on nine processes over approximately 60 days, investing around 200 billion won and involving an average of 3,000 workers daily.
This maintenance utilized digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for work planning, site operations, and safety management.
To manage the location and inspection status of electric valves (MOV) installed throughout the plant, GS Caltex developed the 'MOVision' application based on Google Earth and 3D modeling. The app displays valve locations and details, with completed inspections indicated by a color change.
For heater tubes, which are difficult to clean internally, the company deployed cleaning robots. These robots removed foreign substances from areas previously inaccessible to existing equipment, and the company plans to monitor changes in thermal efficiency and fuel consumption in the future.
AI-equipped closed-circuit television (CCTV) was also implemented at the work site. This system detects various hazards in real-time, such as whether protective gear and safety harnesses are worn and the proximity of heavy machinery, managing high-risk work areas.
In addition to the major maintenance period, GS Caltex operates a company-wide safety, health, and environment council known as SLC. Safety culture programs and leadership practice guidelines are applied at the Yeosu plant, logistics center, technology research institute, and domestic and international subsidiaries.
Heo Se-hong, Vice Chairman of GS Caltex, stated, "We applied on-site experience along with digital and AI technologies in this major maintenance. We will continue to expand the practical use of related technologies in the field."
Meanwhile, Heo Tae-soo, Chairman of GS Group, is promoting DAX (Digital and AI Transformation) as a future breakthrough and is expanding investments in the physical AI and robotics sector at the group level.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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