The Weakness Of Space Constraint In Singapore

3. Weakness
3.1 Space Constraint
Space constraint is one of the major problems that Singapore is facing. Singapore only has a land space of 71,400 hectares (ha) hence, with small land area and a high population, she faces the challenge of using her land efficiently and effectively to obtain a high productivity. Moreover, Singapore has to take into consideration of creating a sustainable living space for her citizens. In comparison with Shanghai that surpassed Singapore as the world’s busiest trading port in 2011, has a land space of 6,219 sq. km. The port has an area of 3.94 sq. km which is equivalent of 470 football fields.
Counter Measures
Singapore has come up with various plans to counter this problem:
Relocation of ports to free up land

Jurong Island was formed from the consolidation of seven offshore islands. It has a land area of 3,200 ha and resides many major oil companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil and Singapore Petroleum Company. This method helps to increase the land area from the current 71,400ha to 76,000 ha by 2030. Even though it is one of the more successful method to counter the problem, there are still limitations to reclamation. It is also not viable to pursue pushing reclamation further offshore because there is the competing need to maintain the sea lanes and provide new and larger ports for the bigger ships to anchor in Singapore’s limited sea space. It is not a permanent method and a new method has to be come up

It was small and underdeveloped country with limited natural resources. The only resource is a population of immigrants. A resource-poor country would be more constrained in its ability to diversify and develop than a resource-rich country. Singapore has very limited non-renewable resources such as coal, oil or natural gas. It takes millions of years to form naturally and cannot be replaced once it has been consumed. Hence, Singapore have to depend on other countries for resources like food, water and especially fuel. As a result, Singapore is unable to become energy-independent. There is also a risk that the neighbouring countries will raise the price of gas sold to Singapore although there is a contract. Indonesia have plans to renegotiate its natural gas sales contract with Singapore to meet domestic demand for the