S'pore eyeing gas-fed chem investments

26 January 1999 03:01  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)--The government here has begun talking to potential investors about setting up gas-fed chemical plants on petrochemical hub, Jurong Island, to use the natural gas that will be piped from Indonesia in two years, CNI learned Tuesday.

Chief executive officer Ko Kheng Hwa of Jurong Town Corp (JTC), which runs the island, told reporters Monday (25 January) - at the launch of the island's largest, costliest and final reclamation phase - that he hopes to see "a new family of methanol-based petrochemicals" manufactured there from the gas.

Ko added that talks with prospective investors are being held with the Singapore Economic Development Board. He declined to give more details.

That follows finalisation of a sales agreement, between government-controlled Sembawang Corp of Singapore and Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina, for supply of the gas to Singapore power stations and to Jurong Island from 15 July 2001.

Other plans to boost the petrochemical hub include a common ethylene feedstock grid for downstream manufacturers - effectively connecting them to Petrochemical Corp of Singapore crackers and to Exxon Chemical's upcoming facility.

A Jurong Island-wide information technology network, which JTC is planning with the National Computer Board, also is in the pipeline.

Ko described such a complete, integrated system as "collective competitiveness".

By: Leslie Chua
+65 6780 4359

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