Questions
Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how are sponsors and keynote speakers for the annual Singapore International Energy Week selected; (b) what is the amount paid by Aramco as the top sponsor of the event with a significant presence and a keynote speech; and (c) how will the views shared by the chief executive of Aramco during his keynote speech on 21 October 2024 affect the perception of Singapore's decarbonisation efforts, especially since his views run counter to Singapore's decarbonisation and energy transition goals.
Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in respect of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) organised by the Energy Market Authority (a) what is the Ministry's assessment of the remarks by the chief executive of the key event sponsor, Aramco, in his keynote address; and (b) whether the organiser vets the headline speeches for factual errors and to ensure they espouse values compatible with Singapore given the impact of SIEW on Singapore's international reputation.
Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong
1. Every year, a wide range of public and private sector leaders from around the world share their perspectives on the global energy transition at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). The speakers are invited to focus their remarks on the SIEW theme for the year, and are responsible for the content of their speeches. The organiser does not vet their speeches.
2. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the energy transition. Each country would have to chart its own path to navigate the energy trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability, based on its unique circumstances. To remain credible, SIEW must remain an open platform for participants to share these different perspectives.
3. This year’s SIEW was supported by several companies, including Aramco, Siemens Energy, EDP Renewables, ExxonMobil, Sembcorp, DBS Bank, SMBC, and Google. We are unable to disclose further details of SIEW’s sponsorship arrangements due to commercial confidentiality.