Singapore immigration focuses on business immigration in Singapore: As one of the largest refining centers in the world, Singapore's chemical industry is concentrated in the southwestern Jurong Island, which includes world-class petrochemical giants such as ExxonMobil, Shell, and others. The reporter has summarized some of the main measures for planning chemical projects, managing hazardous chemicals, and preventing accidents in Singapore.
Singapore has an overall plan for the layout of chemical projects, with refining facilities mostly concentrated on Jurong Island and some nearby islands, which are less than two kilometers from the main island. Jurong Island is an artificial island created by connecting seven small islands in the southern part of Singapore through land reclamation.
According to relevant regulations from the Singapore government, new industrial facilities must be located within suitable industrial zones and comply with pollution control standards. If the relevant industrial facilities are to handle a certain amount of potentially polluting chemicals, they must be situated away from residential areas. Companies in the chemical industry must submit a quantitative risk analysis report to the relevant government departments, detailing all potential hazards during the use, storage, and transportation of chemicals; they must also propose safety recommendations and measures for the design and operation of the plant to keep risks within acceptable limits.
In Singapore, hazardous chemicals are regulated by different departments. The National Environment Agency is responsible for authorizing the import, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous chemicals that may cause environmental and health issues, while the Civil Defence Force regulates the transportation and storage of petroleum and bulk flammable materials, and the Singapore Police Force oversees explosives and explosive hazardous materials.
Regarding the specific storage of hazardous materials, Singapore mandates that companies must establish appropriate systems for storing all harmful chemicals or flammable and explosive materials, taking into account the properties of the chemicals, such as compatibility, the need to stay away from high temperatures, and direct sunlight, among others.
To prevent accidents, the Jurong Island Fire Department has divided Jurong Island into six zones, with each zone led by a larger company responsible for organizing emergency mutual assistance plans; companies are required to provide the Fire Department and relevant units with written, graphical, and planned information regarding production hazards, disaster characteristics, and disposal measures.
The Fire Department conducts drills with companies every two months, totaling six times a year; there are two fire-fighting drills for high-rise buildings each year; a large-scale joint drill every two years; and contingency plans for support from other civil defense forces and community resources in case of significant shortages of local resources.
Additionally, Jurong Island established a Safety and Risk Management Center in 2014, with participants including the Civil Defence Force responsible for fire safety, the Ministry of Manpower, the National Environment Agency, the Economic Development Board, and Jurong Group. The Safety Risk Management Center can enhance coordination among departments in risk assessment and safety management.
