ExxonMobil shuts down Singapore petchem units for maintenance

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--ExxonMobil has shut down several petrochemical units for planned maintenance at its Singapore Chemical Plant (SCP), the company said on Sunday. 

The scheduled shutdown was expected to last eight weeks, according to a press release on ExxonMobil's website. It did not specify which units would be down during the turnaround.

"Shutting the units down provides an opportunity for detailed inspection of equipment normally in continuous operation, routine maintenance and installation of facility improvement projects," said Derk Hartgerink, SCP plant manager.

The complex consists of a 900,000 tonne/year cracker, a 480,000 tonne/year polyethylene (PE) plant as well as a 275,000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP) unit at Jurong Island in Singapore.

ExxonMobil also operates two aromatics lines in Singapore - the Jurong Aromatics Plant (JAR) and the Singapore Aromatics Recovery (SAR).

JAR produces 300,000 tonnes/year of benzene; 180,000 tonnes/year of toluene; and 400,000 tonnes/year of paraxylene (PX), according to ExxonMobil’s website. SAR, on the other hand, produces 190,000 tonnes/year of benzene and 420,000 tonnes/year of PX.