Discover the secrets of upgrading a Singapore chemicals plant to make over 20% more of the building blocks for pillows, plastic bottles, shampoo and shirts.
Tiny islands
Bukom integrated oil and petrochemicals site lies on three islands, in total the size of around 250 soccer fields.
Better together
Some of the products from Bukom flow to nearby Jurong Island for further processing.
Recycled water
The refinery and petrochemicals plants use nearly 100% waste water, treated and recycled by Singapore's national water company.
Ultra-efficient
The Jurong plant uses award-winning Shell technology to convert chemicals from Bukom more efficiently than any other approach, also consuming about 20% less steam and generating about 30% less waste water.
Everyday products
Raw materials produced on Bukom and Jurong islands go into items such as polyester clothes, carpets, pillows, plastic bottles and washing liquids.
Dizzy heights
A recent upgrade required scaffolding up to 103 metres, higher than a 30-storey building.
Power provision
80 kilometres of new electric cable was installed, enough to stretch the length of Singapore and back again.
BRINGING BENEFITS
The upgrade totalled over 7.5 million hours worked, generating new jobs and providing business.
Giant appetite
At the peak of the upgrade, 5,000 workers were on site eating a total of over 1,500kg of rice every day.
MEETING DEMAND
The plant will produce over 20% more ethylene, a chemical used in paint, washing liquids and, after further processing, in clothes and plastic bottles.