A general view of Shell's Pulau Bukom petrochemical complex in Singapore July 15, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)
Singapore (VNA) –Royal Dutch Shell PLC is considering to install solar panels to power its PulauBukom refinery site in Singapore, according to the company.
The Pulau Bukom site includesa 500,000 barrels-per-day refinery, which is Shell’s largest wholly ownedrefinery.
The oil and gas company has been exploring solarinstallations for its other sites in Singapore as part of its plans to improveenergy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint, Shell said in a statement.
The firm is installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of seven lubricant manufacturing plants in China, India, Italy, Singapore andSwitzerland, the firm noted.
It has so far identified three manufacturing andlogistics sites in Singapore’s Tuas, Jurong Island and Pandan to install asolar PV power generation system,with a combined capacity of about three megawatts.
Thefirst and largest of the three Shell solar farms, which will go live nextmonth, will have more than 6,500 panels placed atop a lubricant plant in Tuas.
Thesolar farm is expected to produce about 3,300 megawatt hours of renewableenergy every year.
Thegenerated solar energy will be used to help power operations at the Tuaslubricants plant, the company said, adding this can result in the avoidance ofa third of the greenhouse gas emissions from the plant’s electricity use, or approximately1,200 tonnes on a carbon dioxide-equivalent basis per year. This is also equivalentto taking about 700 cars off the road for one year.
Installations at Shell’s sites in Pandan and JurongIsland are expected to start in late 2019 and early 2020, respectively.
As part of its efforts to trial low carbon solutions,Shell has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Energy Market Authorityof Singapore (EMA) to jointly work on spurring the adoption of energy storagesystems. This could include piloting commercially viable business models withinnovative solutions that integrate storage systems and solar power to Shell'ssites in Singapore. –VNA
The first phase of a solar power plant that has the total capacity of 210 MWp was put into operation in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 6.
The Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched a programme to boost the development of rooftop solar power in Vietnam.
The central province of Phu Yen began construction on the second stage of the first solar-powered public lighting system for Tuy Hoa city’s walking street, which will make it the first urban area in central Vietnam lit by renewable energy.
Households in Vietnam which install rooftop solar power systems by 2021 will receive a maximum of 6 million VND (256 USD) each from the German Government through the German development bank KfW.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
A general view of Shell's Pulau Bukom petrochemical complex in Singapore July 15, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)
