SRC completes US$500m upgrade on Jurong Island

SINGAPORE Refining Company (SRC), the smallest of Singapore's three refineries, has completed its new petrol clean fuels facility and cogeneration plant on Jurong Island costing US$500 million.

The project, which received final investment decision in 2014, has resulted in greater energy efficiency, higher quality products and reduced emission of sulphur oxides, according to the firm.

By generating its own steam and electricity more efficiently, it also indirectly reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 190,000 tonnes a year.

The plant employs 34 engineers and technicians.

Said SRC chief executive and general manager James Er in a statement on Monday: "The (motor gas and cogeneration) project bolsters our long-term competitiveness and provides a platform for growth.

"It also signifies our commitment to helping the government meet its goals of a cleaner, healthier environment and a more efficient energy sector."

The two-train cogeneration plant has a capacity of 72 megawatts which exceeds the refinery's power requirements. It therefore eliminates electricity expenses - one of the refinery's largest operating costs - and provides room for future growth, said SRC.

With the refinery boilers converted from burning fuel oil to natural gas, SRC expects to reduce sulphur oxides emissions by 15 per cent. This will help the energy and chemical industry to meet its commitment to reduce such emissions by 50 per cent by 2020, it added.

The new petrol facility also enables the firm to cater to growing clean fuel requirements in the region, including the Euro 5 specifications in Singapore.

It includes a petrol desulphurisation unit to reduce sulphur in petrol products, a heavy naphtha splitter to reduce benzene in petrol, and an amine treating unit to recover sulphur from the process.

SRC is a 50:50 joint venture between Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd and PetroChina International Co Ltd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Singapore Petroleum Company Limited. It processes up to 290,000 barrels of crude oil a day.