S’pore expects all parties to honour commitments, says PM Wong after Indonesia cuts gas exports

Singapore’s total daily gas demand amounts to more than 1,000 BBTUD.

In his speech, PM Wong said Singapore has been preparing for such risks and has invested in liquefied natural gas terminals to import natural gas from different countries, without having to rely on pipelines.

“This gives us more options to manage any disruptions to our gas supply,” he added.

PM Wong said the country also has to look beyond natural gas, and needs “cleaner sources of power to provide reliable electricity around the clock”.

That is why it is seriously studying the potential of nuclear energy, he said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged concerns over the safety of nuclear power, given Singapore’s small size and dense population.

“We take the concerns very seriously. Safety must come first. But we should not rule out an option simply because it is difficult or controversial,” he said.

“We must assess the risks and trade-offs carefully, engage Singaporeans, and eventually make the right decision to secure our energy future.”

Singapore will undergo an assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2027 to determine if the country is ready to make an informed decision on whether to deploy nuclear energy.

This will include an evaluation across 19 critical areas such as nuclear safety, managing radioactive waste and emergency planning.

Outlining the Government’s priorities in his speech, PM Wong said some challenges are harder to tackle as they cross national borders.

He cited online scams and haze, which has been affecting Singapore for a few weeks.

“We cannot solve these problems through our own efforts alone. We need cooperation from other countries. But that does not mean we stand by and do nothing,” PM Wong said.

“We are doing everything we can within our power to protect Singaporeans, strengthen our own response, and work with our partners to tackle these problems at source.”