Shell As Singapore's Pioneer Certificate No.1 Investor, Kicks Off EDB's 50th Anniversary Heritage Relay

SINGAPORE -- 50 runners from Economic Development Board (EDB) and Shell gathered at Shell’s Pulau Bukom manufacturing site early this morning to start the west leg of the EDB Heritage Relay 2011. It was significant for Shell to be part of EDB’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Like EDB, Bukom turns 50 this year while Shell celebrates 120 years in Singapore.

“It is fitting that Shell’s Bukom manufacturing site is the starting point of the west leg of EDB’s Heritage Relay,” said Lee Tzu Yang （李子扬）, Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore. “Shell is the first foreign investor to receive Singapore’s Pioneer Certificate No. 1 for its investment to build an oil refinery on Pulau Bukom in 1961.  Over the last 50 years, we have developed a strong partnership with EDB which has helped us to grow and deepen our roots in Singapore even further.”

When Singapore came under self rule in 1959, there was labour strife and confidence in the country was low. Many foreign companies shifted their operations elsewhere. Shell was however still confident of Singapore’s strategic location and its people and government, and decided, even in those early days, to build a refinery. EDB awarded Pioneer Certificate No. 1 to Shell and we have since then been living up to our pioneer status throughout these years.

This certificate also signified the start of a petrochemical industry in Singapore. Today Shell continues to be a key player in the energy and petrochemicals sector. In May 2010, we have completed our Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex (SEPC) project, which was our biggest investment in Asia. 

Over the last 120 years, Shell has contributed greatly to Singapore’s social and economic growth, and helped to build its talent and intellectual capital. Our success here is a result of its good working relationships and long-term partnerships with our staff, union, customers, community and the government. 

To commemorate the anniversaries and to symbolise the deep and strong working relationship with EDB and Singapore, a tree planting ceremony was held on Pulau Bukom at the start of the heritage run.

About Shell

Shell has been in Singapore since 1891, when it acquired eight hectares on Pulau Bukom and set up an oil storage installation. Shell celebrates 120 years in Singapore in 2011. From its world-class manufacturing plants on Pulau Bukom and Jurong Island to its international trading and treasury operations, Singapore has expanded into an important hub for the Shell Group’s businesses in the region.  

For Enquiries: 

Serene Loo
Media Manager
External Affairs & Communications
Shell Companies in Singapore
Tel.: +65 6384 8943/ +65 9186 8504
E-mail:  serene.loo@shell.com

Cautionary note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities.  In this press release “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general.  Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.  These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.  ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence.  The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as “associated companies” or “associates” and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as “jointly controlled entities”.  In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as “equity-accounted investments”.  The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 34% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

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The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.  We use certain terms in this press release that SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC.  U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.  You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.