ExxonMobil marked the opening of its latest two world-scale specialty chemical production facilities on April 5, with Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing and ExxonMobil Chemical Company President Karen McKee.
The ceremony at Singapore Chemical Plant on Jurong Island, was also attended by Economic Development Board (EDB) chairman Beh Swan Gin, as well as other officials from various government stakeholders, including the EDB, JTC, Manpower Ministry, National Environment Agency and Singapore Civil Defence Force. Also present was Takao Tanaka, CEO of Mitsui E&S Holdings – the project’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor.
Construction of the multi-billion dollar project began in 2014, and was completed safely and on schedule in July 2017, clocking some 29 million workforce hours. The 90,000-tonnes-per-year EscorezTM resins plant started up in December 2017 and is in commercial production. The 140,000-tonnes-per-year butyl plant started up in May 2018 and is expected to commence commercial production in the second half of 2019.
The two new facilities are the latest additions to the manufacturing complex, building on its integration and flexible steam cracking capability, to provide upgraded specialty products to meet long-term growing demand in the Asia Pacific region.
Speaking at the event, Minister Chan lauded the long-term partnership between ExxonMobil and Singapore, and how the country was committed to providing a ‘pro-business’ environment in a more competitive world.
He said: “In a world of uncertainty where investors are looking for long-term stability, we need to distinguish ourselves by providing investors with long-term stability beyond one or two terms of government… the partnership with ExxonMobil is testimony to that. It is a 125-year long relationship and growing.”
Mr Gan Seow Kee, chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, said: “We are committed to enhancing the competitiveness of our business in the Asia Pacific region by investing in our facilities, and meeting the market demand for high-performance products, while providing additional opportunities for our employees here and beyond.”
Ms McKee said: “With expansion projects like these, we are able to better serve the Asia Pacific region, which is the key global growth market for these specialty chemicals.”
She noted at the ceremony: “The products we make here help improve people’s lives every day. And that should make us all proud.”
