Management of Genting Singapore have confirmed that the SG$4.5 billion (US$3.3 billion) expansion of Resorts World Sentosa will face inevitable delays due to disruptions in the global supply chain and likely re-designs prompted by COVID-19.
The company flagged the delays in its 2Q20 results announcement on Thursday, noting that while it continued to work closely with the Singapore government on pushing ahead with the expansion, “The timeline of the project will be impacted due to design changes required by safety management measures and disruption to the construction industry and global supply chain caused by the pandemic.
“It is also envisioned that new design changes will be necessary to adapt to the post Covid-19 environment,” Genting Singapore said.
Confirmation of such delays comes just days after Singapore Tourism Board CEO Keith Tan issued a similar prediction in an interview with Bloomberg TV, citing “an overall slowdown in construction activity because of difficulties being faced by the construction sector and the challenges they are facing with their workers and their workforce.”
Genting Singapore revealed Thursday that it had awarded construction contracts for an attraction called “Once a Pirate” with consultants appointed to work on other parts of the RWS 2.0 expansion project, but that all work was currently paused.
It also said that payment for land to be used in the expansion would now be made in the second half of 2020. No details were provided on exactly how long delays to construction of RWS 2.0 would be. Opening was originally scheduled in phases from 2022 to 2025.
Tan told Bloomberg TV this week that, “Both Genting and Marina Bay Sands have not indicated any slippage of their investment commitments here in Singapore.”
The RWS 2.0 expansion aims to increase the property’s gross floor area by 50%, adding 164,000 square meters of leisure and entertainment space.
Among the planned additions are expansion of Universal Studios Singapore, including new themed areas “Minion Park” and “Super Nintendo World”, further development of S.E.A. Aquarium which will be re-branded “Singapore Oceanarium”, the addition of another 1,100 hotel rooms as part of a new “waterfront lifestyle complex”, an enhanced waterfront promenade with restaurants and retail, expanded MICE facilities and development of a driverless transport system around the property.
