Western island could host nuclear power, data centres and advanced manufacturing: experts

Singapore's planned western island could host nuclear power facilities, data centres and energy-intensive industries, energy experts said. The island, announced during the 2026 National Day Rally, would be formed by merging several islands south of Jurong Island over the coming decades.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's planned western island could one day house nuclear power facilities – if the government decides to go down that path – and energy-intensive industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and data centres, energy experts said on Monday (Aug 24). The island, formed by merging several islands south of Jurong Island including Semakau, Bukom and Pulau Sudong, was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally on Sunday.

The offshore location could address one of Singapore's biggest constraints in deploying nuclear power – the amount of land that would have to be set aside – while providing access to seawater for cooling and separation from the general population, experts said. Professor Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, said an offshore location could make nuclear infrastructure easier to separate and secure. "The only place in Singapore where it might be possibly acceptable would be an island, not on the main island of Singapore, but offshore," he told CNA.

Dr Victor Nian, founding co-chairman of the Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, said offshore development offered advantages including space, maritime access, cooling water and separation from densely populated areas. However, he cautioned against assuming that an offshore facility would necessarily be safer. "Safety still depends on the technology, engineering, regulation and specific site conditions," he said, adding that offshore development could mean higher infrastructure and marine engineering costs. Dr Alvin Chew, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, noted that nuclear power plants are typically licensed to operate for 60 to 80 years, meaning land used for nuclear energy could be committed for up to a century. "Hence, it is therefore more appropriate to reclaim an island dedicated for power generation rather than to commit and lock-in premium land on the main island," he said.

Nuclear could remain a longer-term possibility, but other forms of power generation may be more immediately feasible on the new island. Dr Kim Jeong Won, senior research fellow at the Energy Studies Institute (ESI), NUS, said hydrogen-ready natural gas plants could be among the most plausible near-term options, given that natural gas is expected to remain a key part of Singapore's energy mix for decades. Ammonia-fired power generation could be another option, she said, pointing to an existing pilot project on Jurong Island.

Beyond power generation, experts said the new island could host energy-intensive industries that need large amounts of reliable power. Prof Loh identified data centres as one possibility, as the growth of artificial intelligence drives demand for computing capacity and electricity. Dr Nian named semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, chemicals and potentially digital infrastructure as obvious candidates. "These industries could benefit from reliable low-carbon power and shared energy, water and utility infrastructure," he said.

Prof Loh described the proposed island as potentially a "Jurong Island 2.0", following a similar playbook with a greater focus on energy. Rather than committing to a particular technology now, he said the priority should be to make the island "energy ready", given how fast technologies are evolving and the island's long development timeline. Singapore has yet to decide whether to deploy nuclear power, but it is taking steps to shore up its capabilities and expertise in this area. From 2027, the country will undergo an international assessment of its readiness to make an informed decision on nuclear energy.

Experts also cautioned about the potential environmental impact. Dr Kim said land reclamation and thermal discharge from power plants could disrupt marine ecosystems, while Prof Loh raised concerns about the impact of reclamation works on coral reefs around the western and southern islands.