Aster Chemicals orders compressor units from Hitachi; double ethylene capacity in Singapore

Singapore’s Aster Chemicals and Energy is to acquire two advanced compressor units from Hitachi Asia aimed at doubling its ethylene export capacity at its Bukom Island facility in Singapore by 2027, while enhancing integration between Bukom and Chandra Asri’s Cilegon cracker. Aster operates a 237,000 bpd refinery, a 1.1 million tonnes/year naphtha cracker, and 2.5 million tonnes/year downstream assets in Singapore.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hitachi will supply two new compressor units, which are scheduled for delivery in January 2027. The investment will also enable installation of a parallel ethylene chiller system, expand outbound ethylene logistics and enhance operational flexibility and efficiency..

Aster is jointly owned by petrochemicals producer PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk (Jakarta, Indonesia) and commodities trader and producer Glencore PLC (Baar, Switzerland).

Aster said that this investment is crucial for meeting the increasing regional and global demand for ethylene, a fundamental building block used in a wide range of products, including plastics, textiles and specialty chemicals.

In addition to the uptake of production capabilities, this project is set to strengthen the synergy between Aster’s Bukom facility and Chandra Asri’s cracker facility in Cilegon, Indonesia. This integration is anticipated to optimise operations across the regional C2 derivatives value chain, fostering a more cohesive supply network.

Mashhad Dohadwala, Aster’s director for Projects & Technology, emphasiz\sed the significance of the investment, stating, “With the installation of a parallel chiller to double ethylene export capacity, Aster is strengthening the regional supply network while supporting Singapore’s position as a key petrochemical export hub, backed by 1.1 million tonnes/year of cracker capacity.”