Singapore’s Aster Chemicals & Energy is committing US$125 million to upgrade its single buoy mooring (SBM) system and associated pipeline infrastructure near the Bukom refinery. The goal is to restore direct crude delivery capability and extend the operational life of the infrastructure.

The project includes major engineering works contracted to Allseas and DOF, and is expected to be completed by 2026. During the upgrade, downstream refinery operations will continue, as the company says only the crude delivery systems will be affected.

This investment is notable for several reasons:

• It underscores how logistics and mooring systems are key enablers of refining output — crude intake infrastructure can be a critical bottleneck.
• By ensuring more reliable and direct crude routing, the refinery can reduce costs tied to auxiliary transport or marine transfer.
• It reflects a trend where refiners are upgrading midstream infrastructure as part of resilience and capacity assurance strategies, not just core process units.