Shell to start petrochem project

Royal Dutch Shell P.L.C. said the start-up of its Singapore petrochemicals complex, slated for the end of 2009, is on schedule. The Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex will have an ethylene capacity of 800,000 metric tons per year (mtpy) and will be capable of producing 750,000 mtpy of mono-ethylene glycol. The facility will also be able to turn out 155,000 mtpy butadiene, 450,000 mtpy propylene and 230,000 mtpy benzene. Shell said that included in the petrochemicals refinery complex project are modifications and additions to a refinery and a butadiene extraction plant in Pulau Bukom, in the southern part of Singapore’s main island>. The refinery is being modified to enable it to supply feedstock to the new ethylene cracker. (May 25, 2009)