Written reply to PQ on Details of Discussion on Australia-Asia Power Link's Sun Cable Project

Question

Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether there are ongoing discussions relating to the Australia-Asia Power Link’s Sun Cable project to supply power to Singapore outside of the Request for Proposal programme under the Energy Market Authority; (b) if so, whether details on these discussions can be shared; and (c) whether there are any plans for the Government to invest in the project.

Written Answer by Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1. To decarbonise our power sector, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced in October 2021 that Singapore will import 4 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity by 2035 through Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

2. Sun Cable has submitted a proposal for discussion with EMA under the RFP process to export 1.75 gigawatts of electricity from a solar and battery farm in Australia’s Northern Territory to Singapore via a 4,200km subsea cable. All discussions are taken under the RFP framework. As the proposal is still being assessed, we are not able to share any further details.

3. Separately, Singapore and Australia have been working closely to advance cross-border electricity trade. The Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement signed on 18 October 2022 facilitates the development of frameworks to support cross-border electricity trading and enhance regional energy connectivity.