CAPITAL: Singapore
MONETARY UNIT: Dollar
REFINING CAPACITY: 1.157 million b/cd
OIL PRODUCTION: None
OIL RESERVES: None
GAS RESERVES: None
Singapore`s petrochemical industry was expanding in 1997.
Phillips Petroleum Co. started up a 440 million lb/year high-density polyethylene unit at Pulau Ayer Merbau in a joint venture with Singapore Economic Development Board and Sumitomo Chemical.
In other work, Exxon Chemical Co. planned a $2 billion petrochemical complex at the site of its 200,000 b/d refinery at Palau Ayer Chawan. The plans were for a naphtha cracker able to produce 800,000 metric tons/year of intermediate chemicals, including 500,000 tons/year of ethylene.
In conjunction with that project, Esso Singapore Pte. Ltd. was considering a $765 million, 35,000-40,000 b/d hydrocracker for the refinery. Of the output, 60-70% would be lubricant base stocks and the rest diesel and kerosine.
Mobil Corp. studied feasibility of building a cracking unit with capacity as high as 800,000 tons/year of ethylene but had not announced a decision on the project by yearend. It expected in any case to spend more than $780 million to expand its Singapore aromatics plant.
The company commissioned a $250 million, 8,000 b/d lube base oil plant at its 255,000 b/cd Jurong refinery.
Feed from Mobil`s Jurong cracker will be used for a 300,000 ton/year high-density polyethylene plant planned by Mitsui Petrochemicals Ltd. in Singapore. Products from the $133 million plant were to be exported to Southeast Asia and China.
