SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION, AT THE Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) Annual Dinner 2010 and Responsible Care Awards 2009 Presentation, ON THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 2010, 1905 HRS AT THE PACIFIC BALLROOM, PAN PACIFIC HOTEL
Mr Chockalingam, Chairman, SCIC
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
Good evening. I am pleased to join you at the
Singapore Chemical Industry Council’s (SCIC) annual dinner and
awards presentation ceremony.
The
chemical industry has been an integral part of Singapore’s economy.
In 2009, the
industry contributed about S$59 billion, or about one-third of
Singapore’s total manufacturing output. The recent
global economic downturn may have dampened output somewhat.
But with
global economy now turning a corner, the outlook for the chemical
sector in the medium and long term is promising. Increasingly, Asia
is becoming a key consumer of chemical products. With our excellent
infrastructure and connectivity, Singapore remains a strategic base
for companies looking to invest in Asia for the long run. We are
recognised as a leading
global energy and chemical hub, and the government remains committed
to the further development of the chemical industry in Singapore.
Chemical Industry’s Commitment to Responsible Care
and Sustainable Development
Even as we continue to push ahead with
plans to further develop the industry, we will not relinquish our
high standards of environmental protection and workplace safety.
These are important fundamentals in ensuring that we grow our
industry responsibly and sustainably. In this regard,
SCIC has been a key partner in championing
responsible care and safety in the chemical industry. Next year,
SCIC will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its
Responsible Care
Awards. In the last nine years, SCIC has initiated numerous
Responsible Care
activities such as training workshops, best
practices sharing seminars, and other outreach efforts to help the chemical industry improve its operations in
terms of health, safety and environmental standards.
With
cclimate
change now a major global concern, there is an even greater onus on
the industry to improve safety and environmental practices. Indeed,
more companiesin Singapore are investing
in facilities that are best-in-class in terms of environmental
friendliness. One example is Shell’s Mono-Ethylene Glycol (or MEG)plant. Its proprietary OMEGA (“only MEG
advantaged”) process produces significantly less carbon dioxide and
by-products compared to traditional manufacturing processes.
Lucite’s Alpha technology plant
is another example.
It produces
methyl methacrylate (or MMA) and the proprietary technology is more
environmentally friendly since it does not employ the use of toxic
and corrosive chemicals. Environmental sustainability can even be a
driver for competitiveness. Compared to other production
technologies, Lucite’s total cost of production can be reduced by
up to 40 per cent.
JurongIsland
- a Model
of Sustainable Development
The government is also supporting
the industry’s responsible care efforts by investing in
infrastructure to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability
of the industry. There have been joint efforts to develop creative
systems-level solutions in areas such as energy, environment and
logistics through integration, by reaping economies of scale across
individual companies. For example, the JurongIsland container
barging terminal is an initiative driven by various
agenciesto
provide an alternative means of cargo transportation.Currently,
goods and hazardous cargo are being transported piecemeal via
trucks between JurongIsland and ports on the mainland. On
completion, the JBT will offer an alternative for the consolidated
bulk transport of materials by sea via barges. Besides alleviating traffic congestion on the island, it is
estimated that the barging solution will reduce carbon emissions by
as much as 30 per cent compared to conventional trucking.
The government is also work
closely with the chemical sector to develop energy efficiency
solutions. Innovative solutions being studied include the
channeling of “cold energy” from LNG for other industrial uses and
the usage of waste heat for water-desalination. Also being
considered are carbon capture and utilization technologies. For
example, CO2 streams generated on the island could be used to
manufacture other chemical products.
The next phase of JurongIsland’s
development will help our chemical industry move up in tandem to
the next level. By leveraging on our strong industrial base and
technology capabilities, there is great potential for us to
collectively developJurongIsland as a truly world-class industrial
development; one that couples competitiveness with sustainable and
responsible development and growth.
Conclusion
This evening,
31 companies will be receiving the 2009 Responsible Care Awards. I
would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to all the
winners. It is a fitting recognition of your commitment to improve
the health, safety and environmental standards through best
practices at the workplace. On that note, I wish you all the very
best and an enjoyable evening.
Thank you.