Shell completes its largest petrochemicals project

Shell announced the successful completion of the Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex (SEPC) project in Singapore. SEPC is Shell’s largest petrochemicals investment to date and the second world-scale petrochemicals project the company has completed in Asia in four years. The completion of the project reinforces Shell’s intention to remain a leading player in the expanding Asian petrochemicals market.
“This project clearly demonstrates Shell’s strategy to focus on growth markets and to integrate oil and chemicals manufacturing to gain efficiencies,” said CEO Peter Voser. “Creating Shell’s largest integrated site will bring considerable synergies in terms of feedstocks, operations and logistics. Our ambition is to grow in the dynamic Asian petrochemicals market, where we are already a leading player.
“Through SEPC, we have once again shown we have the expertise and technologies to undertake and deliver world-scale, complex hydrocarbon projects not only on time, but also with an outstanding safety record.”
Shell designed the new facilities to maximise the benefits of locating refining and petrochemicals production within a single manufacturing hub on Bukom and Jurong islands, just off the Singapore coast. Jurong Island is a major petrochemical zone which provides opportunities for further integration with current and potential customers, as well as in Shell’s own operations.
Each of the new chemical production units started up as planned. They include a world-scale ethylene cracker, which started up in March, and one of the world’s largest mono-ethylene glycol plants, which has been producing since November 2009. The project also included modifications to the Shell Pulau Bukom Refinery, enabling it to process a wider range of crudes to supply feedstock to the cracker. A new ethylene jetty and cryogenic terminal enable the import and export of ethylene.
Shell has a deep and long-standing relationship with Singapore that spans almost 120 years. Today it serves as Shell’s Asian hub for petrochemicals.