Singapore doubles renewable electricity imports through regional power project, with added supply from Malaysia
Keppel’s electricity importer licence will be extended by another two years to 2026.
by Ng Hong Siang · CNA · JoinSINGAPORE: Singapore will increase its capacity to import electricity from Laos and Malaysia through a four-nation power project.
Singapore currently imports up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from Laos through a cross-border initiative called the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP).
This will double to a maximum of 200MW of renewable hydropower, with supply from Malaysia as well.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Keppel announced this in a joint media release on Friday (Sep 20), with Keppel's licence to import electricity extended for another two years until 2026.
"In addition to being able to import electricity from Lao PDR, Keppel will be importing electricity from Malaysia," the media release stated.
The LTMS-PIP, launched in June 2022, is the first collaboration among the four ASEAN member states on multilateral cross-border electricity trading of renewable energy.
An initial two-year power purchase agreement was signed at the time between Keppel and Laos' state-owned Electricite du Laos to import up to 100 MW of renewable hydropower via Thailand and Malaysia using existing infrastructure.
With phase two of LTMS-PIP, the amount of electricity traded will double.
"The LTMS-PIP is crucial to supporting ongoing efforts towards advancing the ASEAN Power Grid and ASEAN Economic Community," said EMA and Keppel.
"By creating opportunities for multilateral and multidirectional electricity trading in the region, the enhanced LTMS-PIP will strengthen grid resilience and promote energy integration to meet the rising electricity demand in the region."
Former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said in 2023 that a regional power grid will strengthen energy security and resilience in member states, and advance regional decarbonisation.
EMA chief executive Puah Kok Keong said on Friday that the agency welcomes the doubling in electricity trading capacity and the additional electricity supply from Malaysia.
"The LTMS-PIP will be more dynamic with multilateral and multidirectional power trading," he added.
Ms Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel’s infrastructure division, said: "Building on the success of the initial two-year hydropower import from Laos through the LTMS-PIP initiative, Keppel is delighted to have been granted another two-year electricity importer licence from the Energy Market Authority for the Phase Two of LTMS-PIP, with an increased import capacity of up to 200 MW from Lao PDR and Malaysia.
"This expansion underscores the scalability of multilateral electricity trading initiatives."
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app