{"id":80831,"date":"2026-08-30T21:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T13:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80831"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:33:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T13:33:02","slug":"singapores-new-western-island-offers-real-opportunity-to-create-next-generation-energy-hub-analysts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80831","title":{"rendered":"Singapore&#8217;s new Western island offers real opportunity to create &#8216;next-generation energy hub&#8217;: analysts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"article-description\">Its proximity to Jurong Island, the Republic\u2019s petrochemicals hub, also provides synergies<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"article-body-container\">\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">[SINGAPORE] Singapore\u2019s new Western island \u2013 to be formed from the <a class=\"text-bt-blue-500 underline hover:text-bt-blue-600\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/ndr-2026-new-western-island-be-created-new-industries-merging-semakau-bukom-and-other-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">merger of several islands<\/a> \u2013 could house infrastructure for next-generation clean-power solutions, industry players said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">These could include green hydrogen or \u2013 if the Republic decides to proceed with it \u2013 advanced nuclear energy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The Western island will be created by merging Semakau, which houses Singapore\u2019s offshore landfill; Bukom, where its first refinery still operates; and Pulau Sudong, which has an airstrip that the Singapore Armed Forces uses during emergencies. It also consists of several smaller islands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The island will \u201csupport a new generation of industries\u201d, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23).<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"article-inline-youtube-component\">\n<div class=\"paragraph--type-youtube mb-5 paragraph paragraph--type-remove-video paragraph--view-mode-manual \">\n<div class=\"rendered-content-wrapper ratio ratio-16x9\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New island south of Jurong Island to be developed: PM Wong\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tEt7RhVKimc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Sanjeev Gupta, Asean and Singapore energy leader at consultancy EY-Parthenon, said it could be a viable location for advanced nuclear energy technologies such as small molecular reactors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cThe real opportunity is to build on the success of Jurong Island and create Singapore\u2019s next-generation energy hub,\u201d he added, citing the island\u2019s separation from population centres as a favourable factor to site advanced nuclear energy facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The island could also house infrastructure for nuclear fusion energy \u2013 a more nascent technology that has yet to be commercialised, but is progressing \u201crobustly\u201d, said Melvyn Yeo, managing partner of climate technology investor Trirec.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Singapore has not decided whether to adopt nuclear energy, but is studying the option closely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">It will go through <a class=\"text-bt-blue-500 underline hover:text-bt-blue-600\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/economy-policy\/nuclear-power-singapore-undertake-iaea-review-decision-making-ability\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a voluntary assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency<\/a> in 2027, focused on informed decision-making.<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"component-container\" class=\"container px-0 no-print\">\n<div class=\"no-print mb-6 mt-8 border border-gray-200 p-6 md:-mx-8 md:mt-0 md:p-8\" data-testid=\"article-read-more-component\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-6 border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 font-poppins text-4xs font-medium tracking-10 text-gray-600\">SEE ALSO<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"section-related-stories\" class=\"overflow-hidden transition-all duration-300\" style=\"height:0\">\n<div class=\"mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-read-more-individual-card-component\">\n<div data-testid=\"basic-card-component\" data-cueid=\"9072723\" class=\"relative flex flex-wrap items-start gap-4\">\n<div class=\"relative w-[70px] lg:w-[90px] aspect-3x2 order-1 flex-shrink-0\">\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-hidden relative flex\" data-testid=\"article-thumbnail-component\"><a class=\"block h-full w-full\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/economy-policy\/nuclear-power-singapore-undertake-iaea-review-decision-making-ability?ref=article-see-also\" data-discover=\"true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"relative z-10 h-full w-full object-cover\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/businesstimes\/7cde3c3e5961b8c26cdfc5fb26ca51eeb0dae0999ba95419c55c468c35d097cd?w=240&amp;dpr=1&amp;f=webp\" alt=\"Singapore will openly share the findings of the review, including information on risks and challenges, PM Lawrence Wong says.\" width=\"1023\" height=\"678\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Regardless of Singapore\u2019s decision, the new island could be designed for multiple energy sources while \u201cpreserving the nuclear option\u201d, reckoned Sunil Veetil, whose Singapore advisory Perdura helps companies with green finance and the energy transition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201c(Building) the common infrastructure is more important than picking the winning technology today,\u201d he said. \u201cRegulations, jetties, storage, grid connections, pipelines, water and utilities should be designed to accommodate several future fuels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">For instance, <a class=\"text-bt-blue-500 underline hover:text-bt-blue-600\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/opinion-features\/low-carbon-hydrogen-timely-singapore-deepen-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">green hydrogen <\/a><a class=\"text-bt-blue-500 underline hover:text-bt-blue-600\" data-testid=\"article-annotation-link-component\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/opinion-features\/low-carbon-hydrogen-timely-singapore-deepen-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">has yet to take off<\/a>, bogged down by high costs and supply chain constraints, as well as large efficiency losses when used for power generation. But these challenges could ease in the future and the fuel could get cheaper, noted Veetil.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Beyond future fuels, the island could also house existing technologies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Gupta cited natural gas power plants that are hydrogen-ready, allowing Singapore to switch to the clean fuel as the technology matures, while preserving optionality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">An alternative is to develop more domestic solar and energy storage infrastructure, said Kavita Gandhi, executive director of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (Seas).<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cThere could also be an opportunity to co-locate data centres (with) sources of clean energy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"-tracking-5 mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"heading-component\">Advanced manufacturing possibilities<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">On Sunday, PM Wong indicated that the new Western island could be tapped for advanced manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Yeo believed that Singapore could set up more capabilities in manufacturing specialised components, with its expertise in materials science.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Products could span from heat-resistant materials for nuclear reactors to photonic semiconductors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The island\u2019s proximity to Jurong Island, Singapore\u2019s petrochemicals hub, also offers synergies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Said Gupta: \u201cBy locating new power generation, hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure, as well as carbon management solutions alongside existing industrial demand, Singapore could strengthen both energy security and industrial competitiveness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cThe close integration between the two islands would also support the development of lower-carbon energy supply chains, helping Singapore attract and retain energy-intensive industries while advancing its longer-term decarbonisation ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">The new island will include Pulau Bukom, where Aster Chemicals and Energy operates a refinery and is developing a sustainable aviation fuel plant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">When asked how its operations will be impacted, a spokesperson said that the company will work closely with the government \u201cto explore how Bukom can contribute to this next chapter, while continuing to operate our facilities safely and reliably\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"whitespace-normal mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-inline-image-component\">\n<figure class=\"table mx-auto\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/businesstimes\/6d9c5e025a03f8b9ab1ea79948071e1fbd39e65e047d0820dd7fbf9eb57ae876\" alt=\"\" height=\"809\" width=\"1140\" class=\"block max-w-full\"\/> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"-tracking-5 mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"heading-component\">\u201cDelicate\u201d balance with environmental concerns<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">While the island holds economic potential, this will need to be weighed against environmental trade-offs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Veetil said: \u201cThe southern islands contain some of Singapore\u2019s most valuable marine ecosystems. Reclamation is effectively irreversible, so the ecological cost needs to be explicitly valued rather than treated simply as an environmental permitting issue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Yeo likewise said that the new island will be \u201ccritical\u201d for economic development, but acknowledged the need to consider biodiversity and environmental concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cIt\u2019s always going to be a very delicate balance on competing needs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Feasibility and environmental studies \u201cwill help build a clearer picture of any impacts on marine ecosystems and how these could be managed\u201d, said Gandhi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">\u201cIn a land-constrained country like Singapore, evaluating the best use case of the land, while balancing economic, environmental and social priorities, is always top of mind,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words mb-4 md:mb-6\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-component\">Veetil called for the island to integrate sustainable innovations, adding: \u201cWaste heat could support water production, treated wastewater could be reused industrially, carbon dioxide could potentially become a feedstock, and recovered materials could support construction.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"article-inline-youtube-component\">\n<div class=\"paragraph--type-youtube mb-5 paragraph paragraph--type-remove-video paragraph--view-mode-manual \">\n<div class=\"rendered-content-wrapper ratio ratio-16x9\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[FULL] PM Wong National Day Rally 2026 Speech\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/taO8r0szyzQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/singapore\/economy-policy\/singapores-new-western-island-offers-real-opportunity-create-next-generation-energy-hub-analysts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Its proximity to Jurong Island, the Republic\u2019s petrochemicals hub, also provides synergies [SINGAPORE] Singapore\u2019s new Western island \u2013 to be formed from the merger of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/80834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}