ExxonMobil eyes expanding Singapore facility in ‘multi-billion dollar' project

It is expected to start in 2023.

ExxonMobil eyes a multi-billion dollar project at its integrated manufacturing facility in Singapore to produce higher-value products and expand lubricant base stocks production to meet growing demand.

ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company president Bryan Milton said, “Our Singapore facility is one of our largest integrated fuels, lubricant base stocks and chemicals production sites in the world. This investment would move it to the top quartile worldwide in terms of refining competitiveness and increases the site’s competitive advantage from crude cracking.”

According to an announcement, project startup is anticipated in 2023 should it proceed.

ExxonMobil plans to develop and apply proprietary technologies that will convert lower-value byproducts into cleaner, higher-value products, including high-quality light and heavy lubricant base stocks, the company said.

“The advanced technology will also allow ExxonMobil to introduce a new, unique high viscosity Group II base stock into the marketplace. Designed to help blenders achieve greater formulation flexibility and simplify global testing, these products will allow customers in Asia-Pacific to cost-effectively blend a wide-range of finished lubricants,” it added.

Also read: ExxonMobil finishes building world's largest resins plant in Singapore

The Singapore refinery expansion project will also result in the production of other clean fuels with lower sulfur content, including ExxonMobil Marine Fuels that comply with the International Maritime Organization’s 0.5% sulfur cap.

The project is the latest in a series of recent ExxonMobil investments in base stock production in Singapore. In 2017, ExxonMobil announced it would expand its Singapore refinery to upgrade production of its EHCTM Group II base stocks. Construction began in 2017 and commissioning is expected by early 2019.

ExxonMobil is nearing completion of its Rotterdam, Netherlands hydrocracker expansion project, which is expected to start up by the end of 2018. It will produce EHC 120, and product availability is expected in 2019.

ExxonMobil will continue to produce AP/E CORETM Group I base stocks at its Singapore refinery.