Business park just for green companies in Singapore soon

Tania Tan, Straits Times 5 Nov 08;

SINGAPORE'S first business park devoted to companies that focus on environmentally friendly technology has been given the green light, officials revealed yesterday.

The 55ha plot in Jalan Bahar in the north-west could eventually house companies that specialise in industries like solar power, water or fuel cell technology.

The buildings themselves will be green, employing renewable energy and clean technologies.

Named the Clean Tech Park, the project will be rolled out in phases and take 15 to 20 years to complete.

The first building is expected to be up by 2010, said Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar at the opening of the Singapore Energy Conference at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

The project will be about achieving new lows - 'low waste, low energy and low carbon emissions', said Prof Jayakumar.

He added: 'Doing more with less is key to creating sustainable cities.'

Concrete plans for the park are expected to be released in the first quarter of next year.

The new park is part of the country's drive to become a global green hub, producing eco- friendly technologies and services.

The Government has already invested some $170 million to boost the clean energy industry.

Although Singapore accounts for only 0.2 per cent of the world's carbon emissions, its efforts to help provide solutions to problems like climate change were lauded by experts.

Keynote speaker Peter Schwartz called the Republic's environmental progress 'astonishing'.

The chairman of international consultancy firm Global Business Network said the country could soon export lucrative green technologies to overseas markets.

'You could well be a net winner in this whole situation,' he said.

With its engineering and chemical expertise, Singapore could become a centre for developing carbon-capture technology, he said.