ExxonMobil’s Singapore Chemical Plant is now producing ethylene from the facility’s second world-scale steam cracker. The expansion is integrated with the existing petrochemical plant. Over the next few weeks, the petrochemical complex, powered by a 375-megawatt cogeneration plant, will increase production at its three polyethylene plants, two polypropylene plants, a specialty metallocene elastomers unit and the expanded oxo-alcohol and aromatics units.
“This expansion gives ExxonMobil unparalleled feedstock flexibility in the industry and positions the Singapore petrochemical complex well to serve growth markets from China to the Indian sub-continent and beyond,” said Matthew Aguiar, chairman and managing director, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific. “We are committed to meeting the regional demand for petrochemical products and to contributing to Singapore’s growth.”
ExxonMobil completed the construction of the expansion in December 2012, and is producing commercial grades of new products such as specialty metallocene elastomers for the first time in the Asia Pacific region. It also set an industry-leading record in construction safety with more than 83 million hours worked without an injury involving a lost day of work.
“We successfully completed the commissioning of the steam cracker and we are now focused on ensuring that the plant operates safely and reliably”, said Georges Grosliere, venture executive and manufacturing director of the Singapore Chemical Plant, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. “The scale and complexity of this expansion project, which doubled the steam-cracking capacity, demanded a strong focus on safety, operational integrity and discipline.”
