ExxonMobil commissions plants at Singapore integrated complex
ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has started production of hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin and halobutyl rubber at its integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore, which has a crude oil processing capacity of 592,000 b/d and includes two steam crackers.
Construction of the multibillion-dollar expansion project was completed safely and on schedule, with the new plants entering production as of the 20th June, the operator said.
The expansion included ExxonMobil’s proprietary 90,000-tonne/year Escorez hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins plant which will meet long-term demand growth for hot-melt adhesives used in packaging or baby diapers, as well as the 140,000-tpy butyl plant that will produce premium halobutyl rubber used by manufacturers for tyres which maintain inflation to improve fuel economy better, the company said.
The facilities expand on ExxonMobil’s flexible steam cracking capability in Singapore, which provides a range of feedstocks for upgraded specialty products to meet growing long-term demand in Asia Pacific.
The Singapore complex also includes a cogeneration unit at the refinery, bringing the total cogeneration capacity of the site to more than 440 Mw, helping to reduce emissions and support more efficient use of energy, ExxonMobil said.
“These new plants enhance the competitiveness and strategic importance of ExxonMobil’s integrated manufacturing site in Singapore and are part of the company’s long-term plan for advantaged investments around the world,” said John Verity, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company.
The Singapore projects follow a series of investments ExxonMobil has recently made or announced to upgrade and improve its global downstream operations.
Alongside positioning the company to serve customers in key Asian growth markets, these latest additions also help to further establish the Singapore manufacturing site as a key producer of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly products that help its customers improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, said Gan Seow Kee, chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific.
Source: Oil & Gas Journal