These developments are in line with the ramping up of ExxonMobil's construction of its second world-scale petrochemical plant.

 

When ExxonMobil broke ground on Singapore's Jurong Island for its second world-scale petrochemical project in November 2007, it had no doubts that this would be a massive investment requiring thousands of workers to make it possible. After all, when completed in 2011, the project will be the corporation's largest owned and operated petrochemical plant, and its largest integrated chemical and refining site.

Such a huge undertaking requires many hours of planning to ensure the design integrity and safety of the facility. As such, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has set up a Safety Training and Security Centre to train its workers on safety aspects before they can start working on site. The opening ceremony of this Centre, as well as the unveiling of its dormitory facilities for its workers, was held on 1 August 2008 and graced by Guest-of-Honour, Gan Kim Yong, Singapore's Acting Minister for Manpower.

Safety First

The petrochemical project is expected to expend a large number of construction work hours, with manpower count expected to reach 12,000 by mid-2009, and ExxonMobil has identified the safety and security of workers at the worksites as crucial to the success of the project.

The Safety Training and Security Centre will provide safety training for 45,000 people working on the project. The Safety Orientation Course (SOC) conducted at the Centre is accredited by the Ministry of Manpower. The SOC is conducted in seven languages, reflecting the diversity of the workforce.

"The safety and security of our workers is top of mind for our project. No worker can start work, unless he has completed the safety orientation course. This course is designed to help ensure all our workers understand ExxonMobil's requirements for safe behaviour and safe activity," says Georges C. Grosliere, Project Executive, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

When completed, ExxonMobil's largest owned and operated petrochemical plant and the corporation's largest integrated chemical and refining site will be located in Singapore.

Home Away From Home

Besides the Safety Training and Security Centre, the company has also unveiled its dormitory facilities on Jurong Island. The facility is spread over nine hectares of land and is expected to comfortably accommodate 9,000 workers when completed over two phases. The first phase, completed in April 2008, can accommodate 4,500 workers. With amenities such as mini-marts, food stalls and banking, and other recreational facilities such as an indoor gymnasium and Internet cafés, the dormitory functions as a self-serving community within the island.

"The dormitory facility is designed and operated with safety, security and workforce well-being in mind. These facilities are an important part of this world-scale project and our safety of the workforce is critical to the success of this project," says Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman and Managing Director, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

"We are confident that the dormitories and the Safety Training and Security Centre will help meet the needs of our workers in terms of safety, workforce welfare and safety trainings."

The single largest foreign manufacturing investor in Singapore, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has been operating in Singapore for over 100 years, and has about 2,300 employees based in Singapore. Expanding from its humble beginnings of trading in kerosene, the organisation has developed its business here into a multi-billion dollar manufacturing and marketing hub. When completed, ExxonMobil's largest owned and operated petrochemical plant and the corporation's largest integrated chemical and refining site will be located in Singapore.

With the development of this project shaping up nicely, and the necessary infrastructure, such as the dormitory and the Safety Training and Security Centre, falling into place, these are exciting times for both ExxonMobil and Singapore's petrochemicals sector.