Singapore to expand petrochemical island

Singapore to expand petrochemical island

Associated Press Singapore

Singapore will add another 500 hectares to heavily guarded Jurong Island to expand its petrochemical facilities by 2005, the city-state's trade and industry minister said on Friday.

George Yeo, Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister, said the administration would enlarge the island, already host to 72 companies, in an effort to attract more petrochemical companies.

Since separation from Malaysia in 1965, the wealthy, but land- starved Southeast Asian island nation has reclaimed over 100 square kilometers of land. Most of the sand used in reclamation projects comes from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Jurong Island has an area of more than 2,700 hectares which is three times the area of the islands from which it was formed," Yeo said in a speech to open a logistics facility on the island. "Jurong Town Corporation intends to reclaim a further 500 hectares by 2005."

The corporation is a government body that runs Jurong Island.

The island, with over S$20 billion (US$11.42 billion) worth of investment on it, was allegedly one of the targets for Jemaah Islamiyah, the regional arm of al-Qaida. Security on the island has been stepped up since the arrest of more than 30 Jemaah Islamiyah operatives here after Sept. 11. 2001.