SRC to shut secondary unit at Singapore refinery for maintenance

[SINGAPORE] Singapore Refining Company will shut a secondary unit at its 290,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Singapore's Jurong Island this month, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

The refinery, which is the smallest of three in the city-state, will shut a catalytic reformer for 15 to 20 days this month, the sources said, though the exact timeline of the maintenance or the capacity of the unit are not known.

Catalytic reformer typically uses heavy naphtha to produce reformate, a high-octane gasoline blending component.

The refinery is currently running at about 80 per cent due to poor oil product margins, one of the sources said.

SRC is also expected to shut a fluid catalytic cracking unit late next year for a major maintenance, which is expected to last 3 to 4 weeks, the source added.

SRC could not be reached for comment on the matter.

SRC is a joint venture between PetroChina-owned Singapore Petroleum Company and Chevron.

The refinery produces mainly fuel products that are distributed to domestic markets and overseas export markets, according to the company website.

REUTERS