Dit is Nikki, procesoperator op Moerdijk - grondstoffen maken voor alledaagse producten
Nikki de Laat is procesoperator bij Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk. Een stage werd een vaste baan en nu wil ze graag de eerste vrouwelijke ploegleider worden op haar afdeling, die zich bezighoudt met chemische processen. “Shell biedt een werkomgeving waar iedereen zich welkom voelt.”
Tekst: Steve Rowland en Jessica Baxter. Beeld: Ernst Bode.
“Ik keek vroeger graag naar het programma How it's made over hoe alledaagse producten worden gemaakt”, zegt Nikki (23). “Om die redenen ben ik de opleiding procesoperator gaan doen. Ik hoorde dat het een goede mix is tussen natuurkunde, scheikunde en biologie, vakken die ik leuk vond op school.”
Na haar stage op Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk mocht ze blijven. In Moerdijk staan verschillende fabrieken. Die maken met ingewikkelde processen basischemicaliën van nafta, een product dat uit aardolie komt. Met die basischemicaliën maken andere bedrijven alledaagse producten. Denk aan lichtgewicht plastic, zeep, isolatiemateriaal, ontsmettingsmiddelen, matrassen, fietsbanden, sportschoenen en ook kunststofbumpers die elektrische auto’s lichter maken zodat ze minder elektriciteit nodig hebben.
Sleutelwerkzaamheden en monsteranalyse
Nikki: “Ik werk graag met chemische processen omdat het zo uitdagend is. Je moet je hoofd er goed bijhouden en nadenken voordat je iets doet. Ook de afwisseling vind ik belangrijk: in mijn werk is elke dag anders. Standaard loop ik met gereedschap op zak voor sleutelwerkzaamheden, ik doe controlerondes, neem monsters en analyseer deze. Ook stuur ik processen bij in de controlekamer.”
De Raamsdonkveerse zegt goed betaald te krijgen. “Dat is geen hoofdzaak, maar het is wel tof. Ook fijn: binnen Shell heb je een persoonlijk budget om verder te studeren. Zo kun je op kosten van het bedrijf deelnemen aan cursussen en trainingen, en als ik in de toekomst een hbo-studie wil doen, kan dat.”
Verduurzaming op Moerdijk
Bij Shell in Moerdijk wordt ook gewerkt aan de verduurzaming van de fabrieken, en de energietransitie van Shell en Nederland. “Dat vind ik niet meer dan normaal”, zegt Nikki. “Zo hebben we het e-drivesproject waarbij onze turbines aangedreven gaan worden door elektriciteit in plaats van stoom. Bij project Skyline moderniseren we de kraakfornuizen zodat ze energie-efficiënter worden en zo’n 10% minder CO2 uitstoten. En niet te vergeten is het PCE- of MDU-project waarbij we moeilijk te recyclen plastic circulair maken. Buiten dit hebben we ook nog eens een heel zonnepark met 76.000 zonnepanelen en staan flora en fauna hier hoog in het vaandel. Rond het zonnepark en in een stuk bos op ons terrein vind je bijzondere bloemen en orchideeën en leven dieren zoals herten, reeën, konijnen, vossen en nog veel meer.”
Enige vrouw in de ploeg
Nikki was betrokken bij de totstandkoming van de MDU, de Market Development Upgrader, voor circulair plastic. “Ik werkte nauw samen met andere afdelingen en externe bedrijven. Dat was zeer interessant en leerzaam. En nu werk ik op deze en andere fabrieken op Moerdijk als procesoperator.”
Shell biedt een werkomgeving waar iedereen zich welkom voelt, zegt ze. “Ik ben tot nu toe de enige vrouw in mijn ploeg, maar heb me nooit buitengesloten of anders behandeld gevoeld.”
Cautionary note
Cautionary note
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, September 25, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
Shell’s net-zero emissions target
Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.
Forward-looking non-GAAP measures
This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.
The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov
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Making raw materials for everyday products
Meet Nikki, Process Operator at Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk
25 Sep. 2025
Nikki de Laat is a Process Operator at Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk, the Netherlands. An internship turned into a permanent job, and now she hopes to become the first female team leader in her department, which focuses on chemical processes. “Shell offers a work environment where everyone feels welcome.”
Text: Steve Rowland and Jessica Baxter. Photography: Ernst Bode.
“I used to love watching the show How it’s made, about everyday products,” says Nikki (23). “That’s why I decided to study to become a process operator. I heard it’s a good mix of physics, chemistry, and biology—subjects I enjoyed in school.”
After her internship at Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk, she was offered a permanent position. Moerdijk is situated as the crow flies about 26 kilometres (16.5 miles) south of Rotterdam. The chemicals park hosts several plants that use complex processes to produce basic chemicals from naphtha, a product derived from crude oil. These basic chemicals are then used by other companies to make everyday products—think lightweight plastics, soap, insulation materials, disinfectants, mattresses, bicycle tires, sports shoes, and even plastic bumpers that make electric cars lighter and more energy-efficient.
Key tasks and sample analysis
Nikki: “I enjoy working with chemical processes because they’re so challenging. You really must stay sharp and think before you act. I also appreciate the variety—no two days are the same. I usually carry tools for mechanical tasks, do inspection rounds, take samples and analyse them. I also adjust processes from the control room.”
The Dutch native says the pay is good. “It’s not the main thing, but it’s definitely nice. Another great perk: at Shell, you get a personal budget for further education. One is enabled to take courses and training at the company’s expense, and if I want to pursue a university of applied sciences degree in the future, that’s possible too.”
Sustainability at Moerdijk
Shell in Moerdijk is also working on making its plants more sustainable and contributing to the energy transition in the Netherlands. “I reckon that’s natural,” says Nikki. “E.g. we have the e-drives project, where turbines will be powered by electricity instead of steam. Project Skyline is modernizing the cracking furnaces to make them more energy-efficient and reduce CO₂ emissions by about 10%. And let’s not forget the PCE or MDU project, which makes hard-to-recycle plastics circular. On top of that, we have a huge solar farm with 76,000 solar panels, and flora and fauna are highly valued here. Around the solar farm and in a wooded area on our site, you’ll find rare flowers and orchids, and animals like deer, roe deer, rabbits, foxes, and many more.”
Only woman on the team
Nikki was involved in the development of the MDU—the Market Development Upgrader—for circular plastics. “I worked closely with other departments and external companies. It was very interesting and educational. Now I work as a process operator at the MDU and other plants in Moerdijk.”
Shell offers a work environment where everyone feels welcome, she says. “So far, I’m the only woman on my team, but I’ve never felt excluded or treated differently.”
Cautionary note
Cautionary note
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, September 25, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
Shell’s net-zero emissions target
Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.
Forward-looking non-GAAP measures
This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.
The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov
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