Under a Memorandum of Understanding announced on Sep. 21, the consortium intends to research, test and develop technological, logistical and operational solutions for CCUS on the island.

As such, the partners will look to provide industry-wide CCUS integrated infrastructure, primarily to support the energy and chemicals sector, by capturing and aggregating CO₂ from large industrial emitters at a centralized collection facility.

Singapore has three major refineries – ExxonMobil at Pulau Ayer Chawan, Shell on Pulau Bukom and Singapore Refining on Pulau Merlimau – as well several petrochemical plants operated by some of the world’s leading producers that include Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil.

The captured CO₂ could be used to make plastics, fuels and cement, or transported via pipelines or ships to suitable reservoirs in the Asia-Pacific region for sequestration by injecting the gas in deep underground geologic formations for permanent storage.

Michele Gritti, vice president, large industries and energy transition at Air Liquide in Southeast Asia, said supporting industry decarbonization to help address the urgency of climate change was a priority.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist