Shelling out in Singapore

News

Shell Eastern Petroleum has taken a final decision to proceed with the construction of a new world-scale ethylene cracker on Bukom Island, Singapore.

Shell Eastern Petroleum

(SEPL) has taken a final investment decision to proceed with the construction of a new world-scale ethylene cracker on

Bukom Island, Singapore

.

Named Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex (SEPC), the integrated refinery and petrochemicals project will also include modifications and additions to the Bukom refinery and a new world-scale Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) plant utilising Shell’s proprietary technology on Jurong Island.

According to Shell, detailed engineering design and procurement work is progressing well with construction on the ethylene cracker due to begin later this year and start-up of the new and modified facilities anticipated between 2009 and 2010.

The 800,000 tonnes per annum-cracker will supply cracker products to the new 750,000 tonnes per annum MEG plant, planned and existing joint venture derivatives plants and to major customers on Jurong Island via existing undersea pipelines.

The majority of MEG production is expected to be consumed in the region where there is considerable demand growth expected.

‘We are delighted to have the green light for this project,’ commented Tan Ek Kia, Vice President Ventures and Developments APME. ‘Shell has been in Singapore now for over 100 years and our decision to build a new cracker represents the latest in a long line of investments in Singapore.’