Aster Chemicals invests US$125 million in mooring, pipeline works for Singapore refinery

[SINGAPORE] Singapore’s Aster Chemicals and Energy is investing US$125 million to upgrade its single buoy mooring and pipeline infrastructure near Bukom refinery, the company said on Tuesday (Sep 30).

The refiner awarded these engineering contracts to Allseas and DOF, it said in a statement, without saying when the works will be completed.

“The upgraded SBM pipeline is projected to provide more than 20 years of reliable service,” Aster Chemicals said in a press statement.

Aster Chemicals took over operations of the refinery from Shell earlier this year.

Since early 2023, the refinery has been unable to receive crude directly from Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). Instead, the VLCCs conducted ship-to-ship transfers with smaller tankers which then discharged the oil at the refinery, Kpler shiptracking data showed.

Shell conducted extended repairs at this shipping facility in mid-2023, Reuters reported. REUTERS