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SINGAPORE: Singapore's $ 768 million paraffin-producing plant, an essential additive in animal feed, officially opened in Singapore on Tuesday (June 18th).
The new complex of the German manufacturer of specialty chemicals, Evonik Industries, is the company's second largest facility in Singapore. It has been built next to its existing plant located on Jurong Island, in operation since 2014.
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The new Evonik plant will help the company double its capacity in Asia from 150,000 tonnes to about 300,000 tonnes, or about 40% of its global production of 730,000 metric tonnes.
In addition to Singapore, Evonik has four similar plants in Belgium, Germany and the United States. The combined investment in Singapore's two factories – over S $ 1.5 billion – is the largest investment ever made by the company outside of Germany.
The new complex was built next to its existing plant on Jurong Island, which has been in operation since 2014. (Photo: Evonik)
Evonik hopes to expand its business in the region thanks to the growing number of middle-class families in Asia.
"On the one hand, the growing wealth of Asian consumers is supporting the growing demand for animal protein. On the other hand, producers are increasingly focusing on more sustainable production of meat, eggs, milk and fish, "said Johann Caspar-Gammelin, chairman of the board of directors. 39, administration of Evonik Nutrition and Care.
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Speaking at the launch at Capitol Theater Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat pointed out that the demand for meat and seafood in Asia is expected to increase by 78% by 2050 He also pointed out that climate change poses a challenge to food safety.
"Global food security is becoming an increasingly urgent problem," said Heng. "We will need new and innovative ways to meet these needs in a sustainable way."
Products like methionine are one example, he added.
The plant producing methionine, an essential additive in animal feed, worth 768 million Singaporean dollars, was officially inaugurated on June 18, 2019. (Photo: Evonik)
Methionine, when added to animal feed, can enable "healthier, more sustainable protein production and more efficient use of resources".
Evonik's facilities also represent an opportunity to create good jobs and strengthen the skills of energy and chemical workers, Heng said.
"Over the years, Evonik's growth in Singapore has also created new types of non-manufacturing jobs. For example, the Evonik Asian Research Center in Singapore hires scientists and researchers who are working on cutting-edge developments in 3D printing and other fields, "added the Deputy Prime Minister.
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More than 100 new jobs should be created in the new plant. They range from laboratory and process technicians to engineers in the fields of maintenance, environment, safety and health.
With plans to improve business capacity through the Energy and Chemicals Transformation Map, the sector is expected to add $ 12.7 billion in value-added and create 1,400 new jobs by 2025 .
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