We are currently building one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes near our Pulau Bukom refinery in Singapore.
Petrochemical Complex, Singapore
The project is complex. Two new world-scale chemicals plants are being built on separate islands. They are then being integrated with the existing refinery on Pulau Bukom (Bukom Island), which will also require major modifications. Space is limited and the plants are spread across three islands. So getting materials and the more than 12,000 workers to and from the sites is a major logistical challenge.
In line with Shell policy, we carried out integrated Environmental, Social and Health Assessments (ESHA). They identified two main environmental and two social priorities for the project: improving energy efficiency and hence reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; avoiding waste cooling water from the plants warming up the surrounding sea when released; building the skills of Singaporean companies; and maintaining the health and safety of a large workforce during construction.
DESIGNING FOR LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
We are applying Shell’s advanced OMEGA technology in one of the new plants. By using catalysts instead of heat, it reduces steam use by a fifth (and the amount of wastewater by nearly a third). To improve energy efficiency further, all the new plants are designed to re-use much of the steam and heat they generate several times, in different parts of the process.
Cooling water will also be re-used in a closed-loop system using cooling towers, so no warm water will be sent back to the sea.
LOCAL SKILLS AND WORKERS’ HEALTH AND SAFETY
By end 2008, more than 90% of the project’s construction contracts were with Singaporean companies. We have worked closely with the leaders of these companies to help them build their people’s skills and make the changes needed to comply with our standards. Health, safety and environmental management have been particular areas of focus.
Clean, comfortable new dormitories, with good recreation facilities, have been built for the largely foreign construction workers. Two of the dormitories, housing 75% of the foreign workers, are situated on the islands. This reduces daily travel to and from the work sites. Quality meals are provided, respecting the dietary requirements of workers from more than 15 different nationalities on site. Each dormitory is equipped with a clinic, and a full-time “welfare officer” has been appointed. In 2008, government inspectors cited the project for setting a new standard for housing foreign workers in Singapore.
