Singapore could begin to import two gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy yearly from Indonesia within five years, in what is the Republic’s hugest attempt so far to import low-carbon electricity. The imports would account for about 15 per cent of Singapore’s yearly requirements, and would constitute the nation’s hugest cross-border electricity contract to date. Combined with a same deal to give conditional acceptance to import 1GW of electricity yearly from Cambodia, Singapore is three-quarters of the way to completing its import goal which is of around 4GW of electricity a year by 2035.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) conveyed on Friday that it was giving conditional acceptance to five activities to import a total of 2GW of low-carbon electricity from Indonesia into Singapore The five companies dealing with the activities are: Pacific Medco Solar, Adaro Solar International, EDP Renewables Asia-Pacific, Vanda RE and Keppel Energy. Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Tan See Leng, told The Straits Times on Friday that the giving of these acceptances was a “watershed moment” for Singapore’s green energy goals. “Singaporeans must have pure faith that we are on the accurate path with accurate strategies to accomplish our goal of importing 4GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, like what we have committed to earlier on in the year,” he said.
“Conditional acceptances provide companies in getting the prominent regulatory acceptances and licences for their goals,” conveyed by the authority. These acceptances build on several agreements between Indonesia and Singapore in the space of energy cooperation, involving one on low-carbon energy and cross-border electricity interrelationship. This last agreement was signed on Friday by Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif and Dr Tan on the sidelines of the Indonesia Sustainability Forum in Jakarta. Singapore and Indonesia approved agreements in January 2022 and in March this year.