ExxonMobil Chemical Company broke ground on its second world-scale petrochemical project in Singapore on 6 November 2007. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the Guest-of-Honour at the groundbreaking ceremony, which was held at the future site of the fully-integrated project on Jurong Island.

The project will be ExxonMobil’s largest owned and operated petrochemical complex and the Corporation’s largest integrated chemical and refining site in the world when it is completed in early 2011. It will employ ExxonMobil’s latest propriety technologies and will produce a range of high value products to meet growing demand. The technology to produce high value products, including VistamaxxTM specialty elastomers and ExceedTM Polyethylene will be used for the first time by ExxonMobil in Asia.

Prime Minister Lee reiterated the Singapore Government’s commitment to provide companies such as ExxonMobil with the necessary support to create and extract maximum value from their projects. He said that the Government is building up the infrastructure and capabilities for the chemical industry’s long-term and sustained growth. This includes developing talent and a skilled workforce needed for the industry.

With ExxonMobil’s new project, new jobs will be brought to Singapore and the region. Some 400 new plant and business positions would be available in Singapore, and the construction of the plant will generate up to 10,000 jobs at its peak.

President of ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Mr Michael J. Dolan said, “This project will add to ExxonMobil Chemical’s global supply capacity and, in particular, serve the growing markets in Asia. The project also signifies our commitment to and confidence in Singapore as a desirable place to grow our business.”

The significance of the project was also reiterated by Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Mr Kwa Chong Seng, who said, “We see this project a win-win for both ExxonMobil and Singapore. Its world-class status will help strengthen ExxonMobil’s supply capabilities to serve the growing needs for petrochemical products in Asia and globally. We are well-positioned to capture this robust growth with ExxonMobil Chemical’s global leadership position, operational excellence, customer focus, disciplined investment strategy and innovative technologies.”

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