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Beyond the physical footprint of energy facilities, access roads, utility corridors and security arrangements would collectively occupy substantial areas of land, Dr Tan-Soo added. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Kim added that space should also be reserved for future expansion and changing safety requirements.<\/p>\n
These safeguards could also complicate day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n
“During construction, activities may need to be coordinated with military training schedules, potentially extending project timelines and increasing development costs,” said Dr Kim.<\/p>\n
“Once operational, military exercises could complicate fuel deliveries, maintenance access, and emergency response if roads, coastal waters, or other access routes are shared or subject to temporary restrictions.”<\/p>\n
There could, however, be opportunities for shared infrastructure to benefit both sides, such as transport routes or utilities, while the energy cluster could potentially supply backup electricity to military facilities, Dr Tan-Soo suggested.<\/p>\n
Similar arrangements exist overseas, where energy infrastructure operates near military installations, but experts cautioned against drawing direct comparisons with Pulau Tekong.<\/p>\n
Dr Tan-Soo pointed to Cartagena in Spain and Kochi in India as examples of coastal areas where major LNG facilities operate alongside naval installations or in areas that serve as important naval centres.<\/p>\n
Dr Kim also cited military bases in the United States \u2013 including the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, both in California \u2013 where energy infrastructure has been developed through careful site selection, compatible land-use planning and mutually-beneficial operational arrangements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But these examples differ in scale and purpose from the major energy infrastructure cluster being contemplated on Pulau Tekong, experts noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For instance, the project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton spans about 7.8ha, compared with the 200ha being studied on Pulau Tekong, and focuses on battery energy storage rather than large-scale fuel storage or power generation, said Dr Kim.<\/p>\n
“While these international examples demonstrate that civilian energy infrastructure and military activities can coexist within the same broader geographical area, they do not necessarily establish that large-scale LNG or hydrogen facilities can operate safely in close proximity to live-firing exercises,” said Dr Tan-Soo.<\/p>\n
The key question, he added, would be whether the benefits of developing the energy cluster would outweigh the costs of accommodating it alongside military training.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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