Shell Singapore shines in pursuit of sustainability
Shell’s operations on Bukom have made significant progress in optimising its energy use
SHELL Singapore’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, while contributing meaningfully to Singapore’s low-carbon future, has been recognised at the Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) Awards 2023 in the Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management category.
Situated on Pulau Bukom, alongside its sister site on Jurong Island, Shell’s only energy-and-chemicals park in Asia reflects the group’s efforts to become more energy efficient. Once the heart of Singapore’s oil storage and refining activities, Bukom has now repurposed its mission to produce low-carbon energy products with an emphasis on circular economy principles.
To this end, Shell’s Bukom site has set goals to reduce its refinery energy intensity index (EII), a key performance indicator tailored for energy management. The EII allows for a streamlined comparison against global benchmarks, and acts as a reference point for energy and GHG improvement plans.
Notably, the site has seen a 5 per cent decrease in refinery EII since 2018, culminating in 2,300 terajoules total energy reduction, which is equivalent to the annual electricity and town gas consumption of 120,000 HDB flats. It has also mitigated 200,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions, which is comparable to the annual emissions of 50,000 cars.
“Refinery-petrochemical operations involve intricate chemical processes for converting oil into various products. These processes are inherently energy-intensive, with operational costs and GHG impact. Therefore, the pursuit of excellence in energy management is important to Shell Singapore,” said Arnold Teo, technology manager at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore.
Shell adopts a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) model that is integral to Shell’s energy/GHG management system. This approach ensures that energy and carbon abatement strategies are rigorously examined and continually optimised.
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“To grasp the concept of PDCA, envision yourself preparing for a marathon. You meticulously plan your training regimen, embark on your running journeys, carefully monitor your heart rate and stride, and make necessary adjustments to your pace and form to enhance your overall timing,” said Amit Chaudhary, senior technologist for carbon energy management at Shell.
Shell’s quest for greater energy efficiency is also aided by digitalisation. State-of-the-art digital tools, alongside dedicated campaigns like the Ultimate Potential Journey-Energy Workstream and the Energy Maintenance Programme bolster the company’s energy efficiency measures.
Another cornerstone of Shell’s approach is its investment in human resources. The company employs a blend of online and face-to-face training programmes aimed at fostering energy efficiency and GHG management skills among its staff. These skills are also embedded as part of the job competency, ensuring that energy management practices are integrated into everyday practices.
Shell’s holistic strategy for energy management is a testament to its dedication to sustainability and corporate responsibility. Through the use of data-driven metrics, employee training and technological innovation, the company is not just mitigating its environmental impact, but also contributing to Singapore’s national goals for energy efficiency and climate change.
Said Saju John, utilities and energy manager at Shell: “By implementing a robust energy management system at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore on Bukom, we ensure the optimal utilisation of precious energy resources and its GHG impact.”
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