Shell goes green with refinery upgrade

GREEN is in nowadays. As such, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. recently unveiled the successful upgrade of its oil refining facility in Tabangao, Batangas, through the STAR-TREC (Shell Tabangao Asset Renewal–Tabangao Refinery Euro-IV Compliance) project.

Shell upgraded its Tabangao refinery as the company’s direct response to the national government’s directive that mandates energy companies to produce or introduce Euro-IV compliant fuels to the Philippine market.

Euro-IV is part of the emission standards set by the European Union meant to significantly reduce the sulphur content of fuels. In the Philippines, Euro-IV compliant fuels means lowered sulphur content from 500 ppm (parts per million) to 50 ppm.

Project STAR-TREC entailed the installation of a new hydro-desulfurization reactor, a new pressure swing adsorption unit, and additions to the existing sour water stripper in the refinery. Using differentiating technology, all these upgrading activities took place while the facility continued to deliver “operational and safety excellence,” the company said.

Behind the project are over 600 staff and workers from Shell, Chiyoda Philippines Corp. as main contractor and EEI Corp. as implementation contractor.

This project allows the refinery to produce 110,000 barrels per day of Euro-IV Philippine compliant fuels.

“This is a very complex project and one which is very important for Shell and for the country,” the company’s country chair Edgar Chua said. “It is also a testament to the strength of Shell operations in the Philippines, and to the faith of the company in the country and its people.”

At the same time, through Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., the STAR-TREC project has also helped over 5,000 residents of the community around the refinery. Capacity building programs were provided to out-of-school youths and employment opportunities were given to local residents. Livelihood programs were also launched for the women of the area, and safety awareness of residents from fence-line communities were also enhanced.

Good job, Shell. Daxim L. Lucas