Project Profile
Value: US$973m
Location: Tuas Industrial Zone, western Singapore
Area: unknown
Capacity: 1 million tons a year
Start-up Year: 2011
in March 2016, Neste launched a new carbon dioxide recovery and liquefaction plant for the renewable products factory at Tuas. The plant was recovering 35-40 tonnes of CO2 per day at launch ahead of full production capacity anticipated during the Autumn. Neste expects to supply the plant approximately 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide-containing crude gas annually. Installation was undertaken under an agreement signed with National Oxygen Pte Ltd (NOX), a wholly-owned unit of Japan’s Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation.
On 8 March 2011, Neste Oil opened the world\'s largest biodiesel plant in Tuas Industrial Zone, western Singapore. The refinery produces clean and renewable diesel called NExBTL. The commercial-scale plant employs 120 people and has a capacity of 800,000 million tons a year, with production is expected to be increased in phases in future. The project is estimated to have cost about €550m (US$973m). Neste Oil announced plans to build the plant in November 2007. Construction began in the first quarter of 2008 and completed in the fourth quarter of 2010. Production started in November 2010.
In January 2011, the refinery received the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) confirming that the diesel production was sustainable. It also meets the sustainability criteria set by the EU\'s renewable energy directive. The feedstock for NExBTL diesel can be any mixture of waste animal fats and vegetable oils from the food industry. The company has committed to use the palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. The by-products of palm oil, also used as the feedstock, are procured from Malaysia and Indonesia, while waste animal fats are sourced from New Zealand and Australia.
The biodiesel plant uses a proprietary technology developed by Neste Oil. Production involves hydrotreating of the vegetable and fat oils. NExBTL has a chemical composition similar to that of fossil fuel diesel. However, it is more eco-friendly and efficient than conventional biodiesels and fossil fuels. It is free from oxygen, aromatics, sulphur and nitrogen, and has lower tailpipe emissions. It emits 40-60% fewer greenhouse gases in its lifecycle compared to fossil diesel. The biofuel was put to several field tests in different compositions and as 0% to 100% blends with traditional diesel. The tests, conducted in Finland, Canada and Germany, reduced carbon dioxide emissions from buses and trucks. The Greenfield project was set up in Singapore as it is one of the major centres for feedstock, logistics and product flows. The project was also assisted by the Singapore Economic Development Board. The refinery is integrated into the existing industrial infrastructure of the Tuas industrial zone. The plant uses the readily available utilities, storage services and port.
In January 2008, Neste Oil awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management services contract for the plant to Technip. In September 2008, Rotary Engineering received S$37.9m contract from Technip to provide subcontractor services. Foundation and civil engineering works for the NExBTL plant commenced in late 2008 and construction was officially started in March 2009. About 5,000 employees worked at the site during the peak of construction. The project involved contractors and workers from 13 countries and about 14 million man-hours. In March 2008, CSC Holdings was awarded US$33m contract for foundation works at the plant site. Scope of work included constructing 300km of ground piles to support heavy structures and installation of about 90km of pipe work.
In June 2008, Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide (Soxal), a subsidiary of Air Liquide, was awarded a long-term contract to supply hydrogen to the biodiesel plant. Soxal constructed a hydrogen unit and pipeline network extension of 30km to connect the Neste plant with Jurong Island, as well as a carbon dioxide purification and liquefaction unit. In September 2008, Tuas Power was awarded a 30-year service contract to supply multi-utilities such as steam supply, waste treatment, harbour operations, cooling water, and loading and storage services. Named as the Tuas Power Scope Project, it was valued at S$1bn ($697.47m). Neste Oil contracted Jacobs Engineering for the engineering, procurement and construction management services of this project. In February 2009, Hiap Seng Engineering received a S$63m ($42.16m) contract for the fabrication of steel structures, and mechanical, piping and painting works for the plant. In July 2009, Rotary Engineering received another S$36m ($24.96m) contract for executing all the electrical and instrumentation works.
Operators:
Neste Oil: Operator with 100% interest
Contractors:
Technip: Engineering, procurement and construction management services contract
CSC Holdings: Awarded contract for foundation works at the plant site. Scope of work included constructing 300km of ground piles to support heavy structures and installation of about 90km of pipe work
Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide (Soxal, a subsidiary of Air Liquide): A long-term contract to supply hydrogen to the biodiesel plant, constructing a hydrogen unit and pipeline network extension of 30km to connect the Neste plant with Jurong Island, as well as a carbon dioxide purification and liquefaction unit
Tuas Power: A 30-year service contract to supply multi-utilities such as steam supply, waste treatment, harbour operations, cooling water, and loading and storage services
Jacobs Engineering: Engineering, procurement and construction management services of this project
Hiap Seng Engineering: A US$63m contract for the fabrication of steel structures, and mechanical, piping and painting works for the plant
Rotary Engineering: A US$36m contract for executing all the electrical and instrumentation works
Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp: Signed an installation contract in September 2014 to deliver an associated CO2 recovery and liquefaction plant. Project was launched in March 2016.
Sub-contractors: