The Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex will include a new world-scale ethylene cracker on Bukom Island, Singapore.

A year after work began on its Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex (SEPC) project, the company has announced that the development is progressing well.

The project is Shell’s largest single investment in Asia to date. The integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex will be based at two sites on Pulau Bukom and Jurong Island, Singapore, and is on schedule for a 2009/2010 completion date.

So far, workers have constructed temporary facilities including offices and infrastructure. Shell says it has awarded the majority of the construction contracts for the project, and civil works, foundations, and underground construction are in progress.

High quality workmanship

Dick Wynberg, SEPC’s Project Director, is very satisfied with the complex’s overall progress. He commented: “We are constructing this project in the midst of a busy time in Singapore, which brings with it challenges in securing resources and equipment.

“We are very happy to have committed contracts to a large cross-section of more than 50 companies in Singapore, many of which we consider to be among the best construction and services companies here. On the whole, we have been pleased with the quality of work that is being delivered, and will continue to focus on safety and quality.”

When complete, the facility will include a new world-scale 800,000 tonnes per annum ethylene cracker on Pulau Bukom and a 750,000 tonnes per annum mono-ethylene glycol plant on Jurong Island using Shell’s proprietary technology.

The project scope also includes modifications and additions to the Bukom refinery, as well as a butadiene extraction unit on Pulau Bukom with an initial capacity of 155 kilo tonnes per annum.

By Natasha Piscitelli