ExxonMobil fires up new hydrotreater

[SINGAPORE] Oil giant ExxonMobil (EM) has just fired up its latest plant investment here - a hydrotreater which is to boost its production of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) for the thirsty Asia-Pacific market.

Completed on time and safely 21/2 years after ground was broken for the project, the hydrotreater will raise EM Singapore's low-sulphur diesel capacity to around 25 million litres daily, with more than nine million litres of that output meeting ULSD specifications.

This project, said to cost around US$500 million, brings the group's investments in such ULSD facilities around the world to more than US$3 billion. In Singapore alone, EM has invested well over US$10 billion.