Solvay opens S$50m specialty chemicals plant in Singapore

BELGIUM-BASED specialty chemicals firm Solvay opened its S$50 million plant on Jurong Island today. It also announced the expansion of oil and gas research at its research and innovation centre in Singapore.

The alkoxylation plant, which will be Solvay's largest in Asia, will complement existing facilities in India and China.

It will receive a key raw material, ethylene oxide, via a dedicated pipeline, and produce chemical formulations for use in the agrochemicals, coatings, home and personal care, industrial, and oil and gas markets in Asia.

The new facility attests to Singapore's attractiveness as a location for companies looking to capture growth opportunities in the region, said EDB energy and chemicals director Cindy Koh. "We will continue to build upon our existing strengths in logistics and infrastructure to bolster integration across the chemical value chain on Jurong Island to deliver greater value to companies."

Specialty chemicals companies account for a third of the S$6 billion fixed asset investments Singapore has secured for the energy and chemicals sector in the past two years, said Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran. "These investments in specialty chemicals will create over 1,000 skilled and exciting jobs for Singaporeans."

Solvay has seven other alkoxylation plants worldwide.