Briefinq nc:e for B.D. Bramley, Esq
for TSRT meeting - 20r-h March 1989
G13 Process in Singapore
The Singapore G13 plant can be shut down by the
first quarter of *.990.
Before this date, a series of product tests must
be carried out to recesign the
blends to take DIET - probably from Malaysia. An
alternative is the zze of
expanded IA--*na from the High Velocity Dryer (now
being installed in STC).
This will take about 6 months from now to prove
and simi!aLr product redesign
will be necessary.
The test series has been scheduled with the first
batch of tobacco going to
Malaysia for expansion now (March).
It is not certain that DIET can he substituted to
give the same leaf saving
and DIET will be inherently more expensive. Hence
there will be increased
costs of between 3 cents and 60 cents (Singapore)
per mille (S$ 83,000 to
S$ 1,770,00C p.a. on 1989 Plan volumes) - The
lower of these additiona.3- costs
would be ac~.ieved if large scale substitutes of
HVD for G13/DIET proves
possible. :n addition, the book value of the G13
plant is S$ 1.8 -4-on.
A few points may be helpful to put the Public
Affairs aspect of G:3 in
Singapore Ln perspective:
- S-Z's total Freon usage in 1988 was 0.22% of
Singapore's total 1987
Consumption (most of which was used in
refrigeration and plastics
expansion).
- The products of Rothmans and RJR in Singapore
have detectable Freon
residues. STC's are the lowest.
- According to STC, public campaigns against a
specific corporate target
aze unknown there.
Arjay Corporation (and R&D Southampton) are
locking at an alterna--tve agent
which could be used in the same plant. Estimated
timescale for its
availability is 4-5 years from now - the delay
being due to toxicoloc. testing
and the need to build a supply plant.
N. DAVIS
ND/DET
7 th March 1989
cc
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 26
October 1999