Making utilities a pillar in Sembcorp

SOME 20 years ago, Sembcorp Industries, a heavyweight in Singapore's utilities sector and a blue-chip conglomerate, didn't actually have a utilities business. Today, utilities, comprising energy, water, solid waste management and on-site logistics, contributed $450 million in 2013 net profit - more than half the $820 million total net profit reported that year.

Moreover, profit from utilities is expected to double in the next five years, on the back of a strong development pipeline of power and water projects in mostly rapidly developing economies.

One person who was instrumental in addin…