BY CHERYL LIM

FINNISH oil giant Neste Oil expects to fill about 100 new positions when its latest $1.2-billion renewable-diesel plant in Tuas is completed next year.

The plant is the largest such facility in the world to produce diesel fuel from renewable feedstock such as palm oil and animal fat.

It has already hired 16 people and will increase the number to 60 by the end of the year.

At the foundation-stone ceremony over the weekend, chief executive officer Matti Lievonen told my paper that despite the downturn, the company is 'committed to the project, which is proceeding on schedule'.

'We studied different locations. Singapore was chosen because there are good, experienced people to hire, since it's already the third-largest refining centre in the world,' he said.

Mr Lievonen added that the Government had gone out of its way to court Neste and that had shaped its decision.

The guest of honour at the event, Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, said: 'I first visited Neste's renewable- diesel plant in Porvoo, Finland, in 2007 and was deeply impressed by the state-ofthe- art facility and the intensive research that supports it.'

He added: 'Over the years, we have made efforts to strengthen our manufacturing base by diversifying into high-value-added activities and exploring new growth industries.'

Neste commercial director Kaisa Hietala said the new plant has already benefited contractors here like Gammon and CSC and provided scores of jobs for Singapore workers.

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