Singapore to import 1.2GW of low-carbon energy from Vietnam

Singapore to import 1.2GW of low-carbon energy from Vietnam (Photo: tuoitre.vn)

The latest conditional approval – given to power import projects preliminarily found to be technically and commercially viable – comes after similar authorisations for a 1 GW import plan from Cambodia and 2 GW from Indonesia earlier in the year.

The Vietnam power import venture, involving Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities (SCU) and Vietnam’s state-owned PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), includes the laying of subsea power cables spanning around 1,000 kilometres between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ministries and branches of Vietnam and Singapore witness the presentation ceremony of a joint development agreement between PTSC and Sembcorp Utilities Pte. Ltd in developing offshore wind power projects for export to Singapore (Photo: VNA)

During an official visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Singapore in February 2023, PTSC and SCU signed an investment cooperation agreement for energy export to Singapore from offshore renewable energy in Vietnam.

Accordingly, PTSC and SCU will cooperate to invest in an offshore wind farm in Vietnam with an initial capacity of about 2.3 GW and export electricity directly to Singapore via a high-voltage underground cable.

Sembcorp said the Vietnam offshore wind farm could start operating by 2033 subject to approvals and barring unforeseen events.

To achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Singapore Government plans to import 30% of its electricity needs by 2035 from clean energy sources as well as introduce a progressive carbon tax roadmap./.