Singapore (VNA) – The Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore said on October 26 that the city-state will import electricity from Malaysia under a two-year trial from late 2021.

In its media release, EMA said the trial aims to assess and refine the technical and regulatory frameworks for importing electricity into Singapore, and this will help to facilitate larger-scale imports from the region in the future.

"To meet our climate change commitments, there is a need to change the way Singapore produces and uses energy," EMA said, adding that tapping on regional power grids for cleaner energy resources is one strategy to further diversify Singapore’s energy supply.

In a keynote speech delivered at the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said the move is part of Singapore's plan to strengthen the "regional grid architecture".

The country will kick this off by importing 100 MW of electricity for a trial period of two years to see how the market works. Once the concept takes off, it will be able to extend this to other regional players, according to the official.

EMA plans to issue a request for proposal by March next year for 100 MW of electricity imports, which will make up about 1.5 percent of Singapore’s peak electricity demand.

Under this request for proposal, electricity imports could begin in late 2021. An importer will be selected through an open and competitive selection process, the authority said./.
VNA