Energy in Singapore is critically influenced by its strategic position in maritime Southeast Asia, nestled between Malaysia and the Singapore Strait, near essential maritime routes like the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. This location has established Singapore as a central hub for the global petroleum, petrochemical, and chemical industries, with Jurong Island serving as a key base for over 100 international companies in these sectors. The majority of Singapore's energy consumption is derived from petroleum and other liquids, accounting for 86% of its total energy use, while natural gas represents 13%, and coal and renewable resources make up the remaining 1%.
Energy in Singapore has evolved in response to its environmental footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. The government has implemented several strategies to transition towards a more sustainable energy model. In 2019, Singapore introduced the Carbon Pricing Act, aimed at reducing carbon emissions by imposing a tax on greenhouse gas emissions. Concurrently, the Energy Market Authority launched the "4 Switches" strategy, which focuses on enhancing energy efficiency, increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources, and integrating advanced technologies such as carbon capture and storage.
In addition to legislative measures, the Singapore Green Plan has been developed to set forth clear objectives for environmental improvement and sustainability. This plan includes initiatives to expand green spaces, phase out new registrations of diesel vehicles by 2025, significantly expand the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and increase the deployment of solar energy to 2 gigawatts by 2030.
Singapore has set ambitious targets aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and reducing its environmental footprint. By 2030, the country plans to improve its energy efficiency by 36% compared to levels in 2005. Supporting measures have included implementing energy efficiency standards and introducing labelling for lamps in 2015. Additionally, Singapore is working to increase its solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 16% below what they would be in 2020, with emissions expected to peak by 2030. Singapore also plans for hydrogen to meet up to half of Singapore’s power needs by 2050.
Overview + Energy in SingaporeIEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 , 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 , 2012 , 2011 , 2010 , 2009 , 2006 IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15 Population (million) Prim. energy (TWh) Production (TWh) Import (TWh) Electricity (TWh) CO2-emission (Mt) 2004 4.24 298 0 548 34.6 38.1 2007 4.59 311 0 628 39.1 45.0 2008 4.84 215 0 650 39.6 44.3 2009 5.0 215 0 685 39.7 44.8 2012 5.2 388 11 919 43.6 64.8 2012R 5.31 291 7.0 823 46.2 49.8 2013 5.40 304 7.4 855 47.7 46.6 Change 2004–09 17.7% -27.8% 0% 25.1% 14.5% 17.8% Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses 2012R = calculation criteria changed, numbers updated According to the IEA Singapore had no energy production in 2008. Energy imports increased 18.6% in 2008 compared to 2004. The primary energy declined by about one third in 2007-8 but during the same period energy imports increased. Energy import was about three times the total primary energy supply in 2008. Compared to the UK in 2008, per capita electricity consumption was 135% and per capita carbon dioxide emissions were 110%. (UK: 61.35 m people 372.19 TWh electricity, 510.63Mt CO2 emissions).IEA Key energy statistics 2010 Page: 23, 52, 54 56 The use of energy (primary energy) in Singapore is only 1/3 of the imported energy.
History On 5 February 1983, the power generators at Jurong Power Station tripped, leading to a cascading effect of tripping both Senoko and Pasir Panjang Power Stations. Singapore was without power for eight hours and 42 minutes before all power was restored.
In 2019, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing spoke about the Singapore Energy Story to guide the energy sector towards greater sustainability, while maintaining a reliable and affordable energy supply.
As part of its energy transition towards cleaner energy, Singapore will use four supply sources, supported with efforts in energy efficiency to reduce energy demand.
Fossil fuels
Oil In 2021, Singapore's oil supply totaled 1,027,948 terajoules, a 42% increase from 2000, comprising both crude and refined products, net of exports and storage. Oil constituted 69.7% of the total energy supply.
All of Singapore's crude oil was imported, with imports growing by 13% since 2000. Oil products imports surged to 208.8% of total consumption, a significant rise of 159% over the same period. Crude oil and oil products represented 30% and 63% of total energy imports, respectively.
Oil products were mainly used in transport and non-energy sectors like plastics and chemicals production. Non-energy use comprised 55% of oil products' final consumption, with naphtha being the most consumed, accounting for 50%. These figures highlight Singapore’s heavy reliance on imported oil and the associated environmental challenges.
Natural Gas In the early 2000s, Singapore started receiving natural gas from Malaysia and Indonesia via pipelines. To further diversify its gas sources, the city-state began importing LNG via the Singapore SLNG Terminal which began operations in May 2013.
In 2008, BG Group (which merged with Shell in 2016) won an exclusive franchise to supply as much as 3 million tonnes per annum (mpta) of LNG. Energy Market Authority (EMA) subsequently launched a competitive Request for Proposal process in 2014 which saw Shell Eastern and Pavilion Gas being appointed LNG importers in 2016. Another two term importers - ExxonMobil LNG Asia Pacific and Sembcorp Fuels - were subsequently appointed in 2021.
In 2021, Singapore's natural gas imports showed a staggering increase, climbing by 754% since 2000, with the entire supply sourced from international markets. This total reliance on external sources poses significant energy security concerns, heightened by global events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The natural gas sector is pivotal in both the energy and industrial sectors in Singapore. It fueled 93.9% of the total electricity generation in 2021—an 804% rise since 2000. Additionally, the industrial sector, which mainly uses natural gas for chemicals and plastics production, accounted for 89% of its final consumption. CO2 emissions from natural gas were 22.528 million tonnes in 2021, up by 684% from 2000, highlighting the need for stringent environmental management despite its status as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil.
In 2022, Singapore launched a Request for Proposal to appoint up to two LNG importers to provide more options for gas buyers, in addition to the four term importers.
As of October 2025, about 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity is generated with natural gas.
Renewable energy sources
Palm Oil The biggest palm oil-based diesel plant in the world, 800,000 t/a production, started operations in Singapore at the end of 2010 by Neste Oil from Finland.Neste Oil rakentaa Singaporeen maailman suurimman biodieseltehtaan yle 30 November 2007 The plant requires almost a million tonnes of raw material annually from the oil palm Elaeis guineensis, equivalent to 2,600–3,400 km2 oil palm plantation.
Greenpeace demonstrated in November 2010 in Espoo, Finland, by hanging an orangutan puppet in front of Neste Oil, saying that Neste Oil endangers the rainforest ecosystem. According to UNEP the majority of new palm oil plantations take place in the rainforests.The last stand: State of emergency: Illegal logging, fire and palm oil in Indonesia's national parks of the orangutan UNEP 2007
According to European Union studies the increased demand for palm oil inevitably leads to new plantations being established in the forests and peat land areas. Land use changes have large green house gas emissions making palm oil diesel much more harmful than petroleum in respect to global warming. According to Greenpeace the Neste Oil plant in Singapore made Finnish Neste Oil among the world's leading palm oil consumers leading to increased rain forest destruction.Neste Oilin Singaporen laitos kiihdyttää sademetsätuhoa, Greenpeace 15 November 2010
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) would be a way to mitigate climate change. According to UNEP the international REDD mechanism will be a key element of Post–Kyoto Protocol negotiations on the post-2012 international climate change regime.Environmental Governance UNEP pages 53–63 pdf: 6-Environmental_Governance_UNEP_YearBook_09_low.pdf
Electricity Generation
Natural Gas In 2019, around 95 per cent of Singapore's electricity is produced using piped or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Natural gas remains a key fuel for Singapore's power generation as it scales up efforts to harness solar and develop other low-carbon technologies.
In 2025, electricity generation in Singapore via natural gas remained at 95 percent.
Nuclear Power In 2012, Singapore conducted a pre-feasibility study on the deployment of nuclear energy in Singapore but was deemed unsuitable for Singapore.
During the 2024 Budget speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, did not rule out using nuclear energy as a source of electricity in Singapore. During the 2025 Budget speech by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, he said Singapore had already signed agreements with the United States on civil nuclear cooperation and also planned to work with other countries with capabilities and experience in civilian nuclear power, especially small modular reactors (SMRs). Various government agencies, such as EMA, had conducted visits to international organisations and partners on nuclear energy such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Max Planck Society.
On 19 May 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will be preparing for IAEA's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review beginning in 2027. The Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, EMA and National Environment Agency (NEA) also released a joint statement that Singapore will start the first of three phases of the nuclear readiness review. Wong also said that this does not means Singapore had decided to deploy nuclear energy and that regardless whether Singapore is assessed to be suitable in Phrase 1 of the review, the review would be valuable with the possibility of use of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia.
Renewables Solar Solar is considered to be Singapore's most viable renewable energy option, as the island nation is "alternative-energy disadvantaged" with low wind speeds, low tidal range, and no hydro resources. +Total solar energy capacity 2014–2023 (MW)2014201520162017201820192020202120222023264697116162272332487633774 Jurong Port built a 10MW solar installation on the roofs of its warehouses, commissioned in 2016. Singapore set a target of generating solar power to cover 350,000 households in 2030 that would correspond to 4% of the country's electricity demand in 2020.Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. and Yurnaidi, Z. 2020. Singapore: How to Attract More Investment in Renewable Energy? ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341794179 To promote renewable energy in the country it is advised that the government develops incentive and regulatory support mechanism; consolidate solar energy governance; mobilise equity investors and lenders; and specialise in the long-distance trade of renewable energy, especially in the form of hydrogen.