The move is part of efforts to shore up energy security via cross-border links. (Bernama pic)
SINGAPORE: Singapore took a step toward importing up to 1 gigawatt of solar power from Indonesia, part of the tiny city-state’s efforts to shore up energy security via cross-border links.
The country’s Energy Market Authority granted a conditional license to Indonesia’s Singa Renewables Pte Ltd. – a joint venture between France’s TotalEnergies SE and Royal Golden Eagle Pte. Ltd., according to a statement. It will also partner with Singapore Energy Interconnections Pte. Ltd. to explore building a subsea power cable between the neighbours, the statement said, without providing an investment amount or timeframe for the project.
It’s the latest of several planned connections in Southeast Asia aimed at carrying low-carbon energy across borders.
Singapore, which depends on imported liquefied natural gas for most of its electricity, has signed deals worth billions with countries as far away as Australia to bring in up to 6 gigawatts of clean power by 2035.
The country has approved 3.4 gigawatts of mostly solar energy imports from Indonesia. Earlier this week, it said it’s exploring bringing in wind power from Vietnam. In February, it inked a hydropower deal with Malaysia.
The subsea cable project “strengthens its partnership with Indonesia in contributing to the Asean power grid which aims to integrate the power systems of member states in the region,” the companies said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which both countries are members.
The announcement came as Singapore and France signed a wide-ranging deal during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the city-state to enhance cooperation in clean energy, defence and cyberspace.
