Oral reply to PQ on proportion of vacant industrial land on Jurong Island and tapping this space before land reclamation for new western island

Question:

Ms Valerie Lee: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) (a) what proportion of industrial land on Jurong Island remains vacant; and (b) in respect of the plan announced at the National Day Rally for the new western island, what considerations prevent these activities from being accommodated on existing or uncommitted Jurong Island land before undertaking substantial land reclamation for the new island. 

Oral Answer (to be attributed to Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), Dr Tan See Leng)

1.       My reply to Question 2885 in today's Order Paper will also cover the question from Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui on the 10 September sitting. 

2.       Jurong Island spans approximately 3,000 hectares, of which less than one-third remains available for development. The remaining vacant land has been earmarked to support our growth focus on specialty chemicals and sustainable materials, and to cater for new energy development, decarbonisation solutions, and low-carbon data centres. 

3.       Land intensification is part of how we address land scarcity in Singapore. We already work with lessees on Jurong Island to maximise the use of their plot ratios, factoring in height constraints and the nature of their operations. For the latter, the limits to land intensification range from the need for waterfront access, heavy equipment that cannot be stacked, and underground safety risks. 

4.       We will continue to explore and encourage the adoption of new technologies to help overcome our physical and technical constraints, if these measures make economic sense. 

5.       For example, we have been innovative in the use of our underground space. JTC developed the Jurong Rock Caverns in Jurong Island to provide storage capacity for up to 1.47 million m3 or about 9 million barrels of liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil. If this was built above ground, it would have required approximately 60 hectares of land or about 84 football fields. 

6.       The new western island is part of our long-term planning for future national needs in security, energy and industry. We have to plan ahead to give future generations the space to meet new requirements and pursue opportunities beyond what we see and can imagine today. 

7.       As part of the planning process, the Government will be conducting engineering and environmental studies, site investigations and surveys, to better understand the various development possibilities and their implications on biodiversity, hydrodynamics, marine navigation as well as existing business operations. 

8.       We have also begun engaging stakeholders to gather their views, and their feedback will be carefully considered before finalising any development plans.