Swiss company opens hazardous chemicals facility on Jurong Island

The Singapore facility is Bertschi’s most advanced in Asia, with its safety certification said to surpass industry ISO standards.
Channel NewsAsia 29 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE: Switzerland's Bertschi AG opened a S$45 million facility on Jurong Island on Friday (Jan 29), adding specialised logistics capabilities to support the island's chemicals industry.

Occupying 30,610 square metres of land, Bertschi's new facility will handle and store specialty and hazardous chemicals produced by other companies on the island.

The Singapore facility is Bertschi’s most advanced in Asia, with its safety certification said to surpass industry ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) standards. It is also its first facility in South-East Asia.

“While better known for its refineries and petrochemical complexes, Jurong Island has in recent years welcomed more manufacturing activities in specialty chemicals," said Mr Damian Chan, Executive Director of Energy and Chemicals in the Singapore Economic Development Board.

"Such manufacturing activities require specialised logistics capabilities, and the addition of Bertschi is an example of how we continually ensure Jurong Island remains competitive. As such, companies here can continue to find Singapore an ideal location to grow their business,” he added.

The Swiss company says a phase two expansion is underway to add a dangerous good warehouse to the facility by the second half of 2017.

- CNA/ek