Mr S Iswaran at Singapore Energy Story Exhibition Opening Ceremony

​Singapore Energy Story Exhibition Opening Ceremony Opening Remarks by Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), at The Singapore International Energy Week 2015, on Monday, 26 October 2015, 2:15 pm, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Welcome

1.         A very good afternoon.  Thank you for taking the time to attend the opening ceremony of the Singapore Energy Story Exhibition.

Introduction

2.         Energy powers our homes, schools, offices, and factories.   It is a critical resource for any economy, including Singapore.  

3.         As we celebrate the nation’s 50th birthday this year, it is a good opportunity to reflect on Singapore’s unique energy story, celebrate our people’s achievements, and share our efforts to prepare Singapore for the future.  I am heartened that this energy exhibition has received strong support from industry players, given their key role in our energy developments.

Singapore’s Energy Story

4.         The Singapore Energy Story began more than 50 years ago.  Singapore has no indigenous energy resources.  Our infrastructure then was limited.  Many people did not have access to electricity.  Through the sheer hard work and determination of the Public Utilities Board, not only have we managed to connect every household to electricity and keep the lights on, we have also achieved one of the world’s most reliable electricity supplies, with an average interruption time of less than 1 minute per customer per year.[1]

5.         While we have come a long way, we must continue to ensure that energy remains affordable, reliable and sustainable – not just for ourselves, but also for future generations.

6.         The Singapore Energy Story takes you through Singapore’s energy journey across the four themes of Accessibility, Reliability, Efficiency, and Future Readiness.  The exhibition offers a glimpse into our past by showcasing milestones in our development.  We must also look ahead, and the exhibition highlights how we are preparing for the future.

7.         By sharing this story with you and the broader Singapore community, we celebrate the hard work and achievements of our people, especially our pioneers in the energy sector.  Just as importantly, we want to inspire our current and future generations to continue contributing to and shaping our energy future.

Conclusion

8.         I look forward to re-living Singapore’s energy journey by walking through the exhibition with you. Thank you. 

[1] Reference: DNV GL’s 2014 report on update of grid price and performance benchmarking. The average interruption time per customer per year is 2.30 minutes for Hong Kong and 5.00 minutes for Tokyo.