Jurong Island, Singapore
Jurong Island (GPS: 1.26967, 103.69377) is a man-made island located off the coast of Jurong, Singapore. It was created through land reclamation, merging together a number of small islands off the coast, including Pulau Ayer Chawan, Pulau Ayer Merbau, Pulau Merlimau and Pulay Seraya.
Before Jurong Island was created, the islands of Pulau Ayer Chawan held facilities by Esso, Pulau Merlimau had the Singapore Refinery Company and Pulau Pasek had Mobil Oil. By the 1970's the Government of Singapore decided to develop the petrochemical industry. As land was scarce on mainland Singapore, a decision was made to merge the outlying islands.
Land reclamation to create Jurong Island began in 1995. It was completed on 25 September, 2009, twenty years ahead of schedule. In the process, the former islands grew from a total land area of 9.91 sq km to a combined area of 32 sq km for Jurong Island.
Today Jurong Island houses petrochemical companies the produce petroleum-based products ranging from automotive lubricants to nylon resin, super absorbent polymers and polycarbonate resins. Due to the sensitive nature of the industries, Jurong Island is off limits to casual visitors, and access is strictly controlled. Photography on the island is prohibited.
One can see Jurong Island from mainland Singapore. It appears as clusters of colossal cylindrical tanks off the coast.