Deep beneath our feet lies a marvel of engineering, the Jurong Rock Caverns. This isn’t just any underground space. This is Southeast Asia’s first underground rock cavern for oil storage. Officially opened in 2014 by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Jurong Rock Caverns represent a significant achievement. Imagine, 130 meters beneath Banyan Basin on Jurong Island, lies a network of caverns and tunnels. These caverns are enormous, 340 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 27 meters high. That’s about the height of a nine-story building! The Jurong Rock Caverns are a vital part of Jurong Island’s role as a petrochemical hub. They provide crucial infrastructure support for major companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron Philips. They store vast quantities of liquid hydrocarbons. This includes crude oil, condensate, naphtha, and gas oil. This first phase of the Jurong Rock Caverns project cost a staggering SGD 950 million. It comprises five caverns and eight kilometers of tunnels. These caverns provide a storage capacity of 1,470,000 cubic meters. That’s equivalent to about 580 Olympic-sized swimming pools! And this is just the beginning. The planned second phase will double the storage capacity to a mind-boggling 2.8 million cubic meters. The Jurong Rock Caverns aren’t just about massive storage. They also represent a clever use of space. By storing oil underground, they free up valuable land on the surface. This land, approximately 60 hectares, can then be used for other important activities. This is equivalent to the size of about 84 football fields. The Jurong Rock Caverns demonstrate Singapore’s innovative approach to infrastructure and its commitment to remaining a global leader in the energy sector.
Seah Eu Chin
Consider this a rags-to-riches story. Seah Eu Chin’s life is a morality tale. It is economic history. Seah Eu Chin