On 18 June 2019, German chemical giant Evonik officially opened its second methionine plant, Me6, on Jurong Island. The plant will double Evonik’s annual capacity of methionine, a key additive in animal feed, from 150,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes. This will make up over 40 per cent of the 730,000 tonnes Evonik produces globally each year, including output from other plants in Belgium, Germany and the United States.
Built at a cost of more than €500 million (S$768 million), Me6 is a “twin” of Evonik’s first methionine plant in Singapore, Me5, which opened in November 2014. The new plant will create more than 100 jobs, ranging from laboratory technicians and process technicians, to engineers in the maintenance, environmental, safety and health domains. Evonik’s growth in Singapore has also created non-manufacturing jobs, such as scientists and researchers who work on cutting-edge developments in 3D printing.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony held at Capitol Theatre, said Evonik is a good example in the energy and chemicals industry – a significant contributor to Singapore's economy – that has been innovating and leveraging technology. Mr Heng added that Evonik’s latest investment reflects the increasing opportunities in Asia for sustainable nutrition, and the importance of innovation in ensuring food security.
Mr Johann-Caspar Gammelin, Chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik's Nutrition & Care segment, was quoted as saying that "the growing customer affluence in Asia supports the increasing demand for animal protein", and that the company’s methionine production supports the efforts of producers that are "increasingly focusing on more sustainable production of eggs, milk and fish".
Evonik’s Asia-Pacific South Regional President Mr Peter Meinhausen added that Singapore’s position as a logistics and trade hub, its qualified workforce and the access to talent here, as well as political stability, are among reason the firm opened its new plant here.
