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SRC refinery aerial view | Credit: SRC Facebook page, 23^rd Dec 2022
 

Refinery Capacity and Storage

• Crude Processing Capacity:
  SRC has a crude processing capability of approximately 290,000 barrels per day (bpd), making it the smallest of Singapore’s three main refineries but still a significant regional player.
   
• Shipping and Storage:
  The refinery features seven shipping berths capable of handling very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and more than 70 tanks for storing crude, blending components, and final products.

Key Processing Unit and Technologies

• Crude Distillation Units:
  There are three CDUs, where crude oil is initially separated into various fractions based on boiling points.
   
• Vacuum Distillation:
  Most atmospheric residue from the CDUs is sent to vacuum distillation units, which further separate vacuum gas oil and vacuum residue.
   
• Catalytic Reformer Complex:
  Upgrades naphtha into high-octane reformate for gasoline production.
   
• Hydrocracker (Unicraker Technology):
  Converts heavy fuel oil components into high-quality, low-sulphur middle distillates (such as diesel). The hydrocracking process uses hydrogen to remove impurities and produce cleaner products.
   
• Residue Catalytic Cracker (RCC):
  Processes heavy, low-grade residual oils into lighter products such as olefinic light ends, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil components. The RCC unit, licensed from Stone & Webster Engineering Corp., can process 24,000–33,000 bpd depending on feedstock. This unit nearly doubled the refinery's complexity and enabled the production of diesel with sulfur content as low as 0.05%.
   
• MTBE and Alkylation Units:
  Produce high-octane gasoline blending components—MTBE (Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether) and alkylate.
   
• Gasoline Desulfurization Units:
  Commissioned in 2017, this unit enables SRC to meet stringent regional gasoline specifications by reducing sulfur content in gasoline products.
   
• Heavy Naphtha Splitter and Amine Treating Unit:
  The heavy naphtha splitter reduces benzene content in gasoline, while the amine treating unit recovers sulfur from process streams.

Recent and Planned Investments

• $500 Million Upgrade (Completed 2017):
  SRC invested over $500 million to add:
  • A 26,000 bpd gasoline desulfurization unit
  • A 32,300 bpd heavy naphtha splitter
  • An amine treating unit
  • A two-train cogeneration (Cogen) power plant with a total output of 72 MW
     
• Cogeneration Plant:
  The gas-fired Cogen plant supplies all the refinery’s power and steam needs, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. It has cut SOx emissions by 15% and CO₂ emissions by 190,000 tonnes per year. The plant’s output exceeds SRC’s requirements, eliminating electricity expenses and supporting future growth.

Environmental and Integration Initiatives

• Effluent Treatment Facility:
  The RCC project included a new effluent treatment facility, with phased upgrades for enhanced oil removal, biotreatment, and sludge handling.
   
• Sulfur Plants and NOx Removal:
  SRC has debottlenecked and revamped its sulfur plants and included provisions for future NOx removal systems.
   
• Downstream Integration:
  SRC collaborates with downstream industries on Jurong Island, selling intermediate and finished products as feedstock for petrochemical and related industries.

Product Slate

• Main Products:
  • Diesel (major product, with ultra-low sulfur content)Unleaded gasoline (most gasoline is unleaded due to regional tax incentives)
  • Naphtha (some piped to Singapore Petrochemical Co. for ethylene production)
  • Jet fuel, fuel oil, and other refined products

Summary

SRC’s refinery is a technologically advanced, integrated facility focused on producing clean fuels and maintaining high environmental standards, with ongoing investments to enhance product quality and operational efficiency.

References

1. SRC > Business > Products and Services. (accessed 21st Jul 2025)
2. Power Engineering International, 20^th Feb 2018, New cogen plant for Singapore refinery.
3. Anne K. Rhodes, 14^th Aug 1995, Two of Singapore's refiners expand despite lack of land, Oil&Gas Journal.
4. Digital Refining, 4^th Feb 2014, Singapore Refining Co invests over $500M in gasoline and power units.