Palm | Kelapa Sawit

Aaron Low Straits Times 31 Dec 12;

OIL giant ExxonMobil has started operations at one of the world's largest ethylene steam crackers.

The cracker, which breaks down complex organic compounds into light hydrocarbons, is part of a multi-billion-dollar expansion to its existing petrochemical complex located on Jurong Island here.

The project is the largest chemical expansion project in ExxonMobil history.

ExxonMobil Chemical Company president Steve Pryor said the expansion will double the size of

the company's finished product capacity in Singapore.

"This is among the most technically advanced and competitive manufacturing sites in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

The expansion, which had been delayed for almost 1 1/2 years, will increase headcount for the chemical plant by 50 per cent, bringing total employment at ExxonMobil's Singapore integrated refining and chemical complex to 1,800.

In all, ExxonMobil employs some 3,300 workers in Singapore.

Said Mr Matthew Aguiar, chairman and managing director, ExxonMobil Asia-Pacific: "The completion of this expansion is a significant achievement for ExxonMobil and it demonstrates our continued confidence in Singapore."

Among other innovations, the expansion includes a new "cogeneration plant" which allows for efficient generation of electricity to run pumps and other equipment, while producing additional steam for the production process.

The expansion is powered by a new 220-megawatt cogeneration plant and adds 2.6 million tonnes per year of new finished product capacity.

The expansion will also employ other new technologies, such as membrane bioreactor technology for water treatment, said Mr Georges Grosliere, venture executive and manufacturing director of the Singapore Chemical Plant, ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

Chemicals remain one of the biggest industries in Singapore, contributing $38 billion in manufacturing output in 2010.