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37DIRECTORYOFSINGAPOREPROCESS&CHEMICALSINDUSTRIES2023/2024systemslikeCarbonCaptureandStorageandrenewableenergiesWearealsoreducingourowncarbonfootprints(andourcustomers)aspartofthistransformationinlinewithShellSingaporestargettoreduceemissionsby50%by2030comparedto2016levelsonanetbasisShellsnew50000tonnesperyear(t/y)pyrolysisoilupgraderunitisturninghard-torecycleplasticwasteintoafeedstockchemicalthatcanbeusedtomakeeverydayproductsfromtyrestomattressesItisthelargestplantofitskindinAsiaandShellsfirstintheworldWhatitprocessesisequivalenttotheweightofabout78billionplasticbagsShellalsoplans tobuildaproposed550000t/ybiofuelfacilitythatwilluserenewablefeedstockssuchasusedcookingoilanimalfatandgreenhydrogentomakelow-carbonproductsincludingsustainableaviationfuel(SAF)bio-chemicalsandrenewabledieselsThiswillsupportShellsaspirationtoproduce2milliont/yofSAFayearby2025MsYapaddedAsforhomegrownPCSPteLtdformerlyknownasPetrochemicalCorporationofSingapore(PCS)thecompanyhasembarkedonseveralinitiativeswiththeaimofbeingalowcarbonessentialchemicalsproducerTheseinitiativesarebroadlycoveredunderfourcategories-energyefficiencycarboncaptureandabatementrecyclingandrenewableenergy APCSSustainability Team was formedinFebruary2022headedbyMrLucasNg formerlyPCSGeneralManagerofPlanttodrivetheprogrammeforwardAPCSveteranwithnearly40yearsofexperiencegoingbacktothecompanyscommercialproductionin1984MrNgisplacinggreaterstoreoncategories1and2–energyefficiencyandcarboncapture–ashebelievesitholdsmorepotentialforthechemicalindustryintermsofreducedcarbonemissionsandcostsForPCSreducingtheenergyusedisabiggerchallengethanmostindustrymembersasthecompanyalreadyhasstringentstandardsinplacegivenitsoriginPCSwasincorporatedinJuly1977asajointventurebetweentheGovernmentofSingaporeTheDevelopmentBankofSingaporeLimitedandtheJapanSingaporePetrochemicalsCompanyLimited(JSPC)ledbySumitomoChemicalOwnedequallybyJSPC(50%)andQatarPetroleumInternational-ShellPetrochemicals(Singapore)PteLtdsinceDecember2009theplantwasdesignedtobeenergyefficientThroughcontinuousimprovementithasmaintaineditsstandardsandisat the topquartilein worldwidebenchmarkingstudiesamongsimilarplantsOvertheyearsithasinstalledutilitiesoptimiserrevampedthreemaincompressorsatitsfirstethyleneplantandaddedacrackingfurnacefeedstockpreheatertopreheatfeedstockusingresidualheatfromquenchingwatersystemRecenteffortsaredirectedatimprovingenergyefficiencyofexistingfacilitiesthroughregulardryiceblastingcleaningforfurnacesandboilersandbackflushingofheatexchangerstoregaintheirthermalefficiencyAsMrNgexplainedtoTheBusinessTimesin2017afterPCSreceivedtwoenergyefficiencyawardsfromtheNationalEnvironmentAgencyFeedstockcostsaresubjecttomarketconditionsandfluctuateaccordingtocrudeoilpricesandsoisenergyWhatplantoperatorslikeuscancontrolishowtomanageandimproveenergyefficiencyperformanceandthereforereducetheunitofcostofproductsinordertobemorecompetitiveThatRationaleRemains True ToTodayCategory2-carboncapturestorageandutilisation-isnecessaryforindustrymembersbecauseofthehighcarbonemissionfromprocessesandtheimpendingspikeincarbontaxHoweverMrNgnotedthatatthispointthetechnologyreadinesslevelisnotsufficientlyhighneitheristhecostofimplementingitfeasibleNonethelessgoingforwardeffortsarebeingputintoexplorepotentialfeasibletechnologiesandattempttopiecethemtogethercommerciallyviablesolutionsAsforcategories3and4recyclingwhileitmakesforgoodpublicitytheimpactinrelationtotheeffortrequiredisminisculeandusingrenewableenergycanbeproblematicashavingsolarpanelsonrooftopstheonlyoptionduetotheconstraintsoftheindustryenvironmentcannotgenerateenergyatscaleRegionallymuchemphasishasbeenplacedongreenhydrogenproducedthroughwaterelectrolysiswithrenewableenergyWhilegreenhydrogenhasstrongappealthetechnologyisstillinitsinfancyandtherearemanyissueswhichmustberesolved forittobecommerciallyviableNeste Takes TheLeadInRenewablesNesteisaheadofmostinitstransitiontorenewablesItbeganlookingatrenewablesinthe1990swiththegrowingawarenessoftheproblemsassociated withclimatechange whichresultedintheenactmentoftheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChangeon21March1994AsNesteisatraditionaloilrefinerythissparkedaconversationandvisionaroundwhatthefuturecouldlooklikeItwasinthelate1990swhenweembarkedonourstrategytowardsrenewablesheraldingthestartofourtransformationItwasaboldbutnecessarymoveand we wereoneof the firstcompanies tocommit torenewable fuelsata time wheremostwereuncertainsaidMrKennethLimGeneralManagerandSiteDirectorofNesteSingapore