Welcome Address by MOS Gan Siow Huang at the Asian Downstream Summit Singapore International Energy Week 2025

1.    Good morning, everyone, very nice to see all of you here on a Wednesday morning. So many of you gathered here for this Asian Downstream Summit, this is my first time attending this (Summit) and very excited to learn more from each one of you.

2.    The energy and chemicals industry is an important part of Singapore’s economy. The downstream industry produces some of the most essential products for this industry, and also are used in our homes and many sectors in Singapore, literally powering our economy. We remain committed to growing this sector and facilitating its transition.

Reimagining Jurong Island to Capture Opportunities

3.    The energy and chemicals sector that we know is at the cusp of transformation, to meet the growing demand for cleaner energy and sustainable products. For Singapore, this starts right at the heart of our Jurong Island. As Jurong Island celebrates its 25^th Anniversary, we welcome its refreshed direction as a catalyst for the energy and chemical sector to achieve its sustainability goals. It will do so by moving beyond traditional strengths to anchor growth in specialty chemicals, new energies and low-carbon technologies. 

4.    Achieving this involves diversifying the range of products that we produce, as well as improving energy efficiency. On products, we will continue to pursue growth opportunities in specialty chemicals and  sustainable products. Singapore has seen increasing interest from specialty chemical players, driven by increasing regional demand for higher quality products.

5.    Beyond these new products, Singapore is committed to working with industry players to upgrade their existing operations to position the sector for longer-term growth.

6.    Our commitment to operational excellence begins with efficiency. Since 2021, EDB has awarded the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions to 35 projects, which will abate more than 340 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide when completed. We encourage more companies to apply for this scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resource efficiency. It is win-win.

7.    Jurong Island will also host Singapore’s largest data centre park, built to accommodate up to 700MW of capacity. For our tiny island, 700MW is a tremendous scale for us. I want to commend the team for making it possible. Operators can leverage the island’s ecosystem, such as shared energy storage and utilities, to run more efficiently and sustainably.

Working Closely with the Industry to Drive Progress

8.    I would like to share some inspiring examples of how working closely with the industry have helped drive the transition towards a sustainable future. 

9.    First, EMA and MPA have recently appointed a consortium led by Keppel to conduct the next phase of studies for a low- or zero-carbon ammonia system on Jurong Island. The study will deepen our understanding of how ammonia can be used for power generation and bunkering.

10. Second example, EMA is supporting feasibility studies for both pre- and post-combustion technologies conducted by three power generation companies – Keppel, Pacific Light, and YTL Power Seraya. These studies will provide us with a better understanding of the power sector carbon capture and storage pathways can work.  

11. Third and last example, A*STAR will be launching a new Low Carbon Technology Translational Testbed (LCT3) on Jurong Island which leverages the island’s interconnected ecosystem. It seeks to work closely with industry partners by providing testbeds to scale up emerging low-carbon technologies for commercial development. Go take a look, it is still being developed, and I think there is huge potential for the industry to tap on this LCT3.

12. Through these various moves, we aim to develop more options for our decarbonisation portfolio that are industry-relevant as well as technically and commercially viable. 

Strengthening Human Capital for the Green Transition

13. But of course, at the core of any transformation journey must be our people. Today, the energy and chemicals sector employs more than 27,000 workers. We will continue to capture new growth opportunities such as new investments in specialty chemicals and sustainable products, which will create good jobs for most Singaporeans.

14. On this note, I would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Asian Downstream Awards. Your achievements remind us how people are at the heart of the transformation and how by getting people together, it is possible to power through this journey of energy transition.

15. To conclude, the future of the energy and chemicals sector depends on how effectively we can pivot to new models of operations, leverage new partnerships, and acquire new skills for our workforce. All of us here at the Asian Downstream Summit have a role to play – exchange ideas, look for partnerships, look at how we can have more operations that are more sustainable and win-win to share with one another. Singapore is privilege to provide this platform and space for collaboration. I hope this summit will be interesting and inspiring for you, just like I know it will be inspiring for me. Thank you.