Shell Launches New Bitumen Grade in Sabah

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister& Minister of Infrastructure Development, Y.B. Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan, launched the product, which is more suitable to the hot and humid Malaysian climate. 

“I am pleased that Shell, a worldwide bitumen technology leader, regularly works closely with the Government and authorities around the world, including right here in our beautiful state, to ensure better roads for Sabah. We are always keen to ensure the people benefit from better infrastructure, as it is crucial in developing a community – be it from linking businesses together, farmers to markets, the people to hospitals, and children to schools,” he said.

Shell Bitumen’s Global General Manager of Technology, Professor John Read, known as one of the world’s foremost experts in bitumen technology was also present to share the suitability of 60/70 bitumen grade for use in Sabah, as well as the latest insights in bitumen technology, part of the latest updates featured in the Shell Bitumen Handbook, Sixth Edition, authored by John and his team of Shell bitumen experts. 

“Our 60/70 grade bitumen has a higher tolerance to high ambient temperature and better resistance to road deformation than the traditional 80/100 grade currently used in Malaysia. Hence, this grade is intended for better road performance, as it is more suited to Malaysia’ tropical climate and increasing traffic loads, as compared to the 80/100 grade. Shell is proud to be the first supplier to offer this new product grade here in Sabah,” said Professor Read. 

Shell’s commitment to research and development has enabled it to bring numerous firsts to the bitumen industry such as coloured binders, low-temperature solutions, low-odour bitumen and underwater glue. Shell today holds 49 patents in bitumen technologies alone. 

In Malaysia, Shell Bitumen has an impressive resume of projects, including runways at major international airports in Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Kota Kinabalu (KKIA), Kuching and Penang.  Its solutions have also been used in major infrastructure projects such as the PLUS Expressway, the longest highway in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Highway. Sepang International Circuit, South East Asia’s first F1 circuit, also used Shell Cariphalte Racetrack, a specially formulated bitumen solution to pave its surface.

Shell Bitumen’s solutions have also been used in numerous major projects around the world, including iconic F1 racing circuits in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Germany (Hockenheim and Nurburgring), Malaysia, Singapore’s street circuit, as well as Ferrari’s own test track, in Fiorano, Italy. Its airport solutions have also been used at eight of the world’s top 10 busiest airports by international passenger traffic_¹, which includes Dubai International Airport’s ambitious 80-day runway rehabilitation project in 2014. 

_¹Airports Council International, 2015

Notes to Editors

• Shell is the world’s largest bitumen marketer, and delivers enough bitumen to pave a one-lane kilometre road every four minutes.
• Shell supplies a wide range of high quality bitumen products, from standard-grade bitumen to special polymer-modified bitumen (PMB), which are marketed under the brand name Shell Cariphalte, and can be used in applications such as highways, urban roads, including porous asphalts for sustainable urban drainage systems. It is also ideal for use in high stress and heavily trafficked locations such as airport runways, racetracks, roundabouts and bus lanes. It can also be particularly beneficial in high stress applications such as rail, ports, bridge decks, crack relief systems or overlaying concrete pavements and expansion joints.
• The Shell Bitumen Handbook, first published in the UK in 1949 as the Mexphalte Handbook, has since, sold over 20,000 copies across 40 countries around the world. The handbook is considered by many in the industry as the definitive guide to asphalt paving technology. Today, it is used as a key reference by contractors and civil engineers around the world. 
• Shell Bitumen operates a network of Regional Technical Centres located in key regions (Beijing, China, Strasbourg, France, and Bangkok, Thailand.) Shell has also established its global bitumen R&D Centre in Bangalore, India.

ENQUIRIES:

Shell Malaysia: Leigh Wong leigh.wong@shell.com

Shell Bitumen Global: Oliver Lim o.lim@shell.com

Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges.  Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com