Singapore doubles renewable electricity imports through regional power project, with added supply from Malaysia

SINGAPORE: Singapore will increase its capacity to import electricity from Laos and Malaysia through a four-nation power project.

Singapore currently imports up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from Laos through a cross-border initiative called the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP).

This will double to a maximum of 200MW of renewable hydropower, with supply from Malaysia as well.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Keppel announced this in a joint media release on Friday (Sep 20), with Keppel’s licence to import electricity extended for another two years until 2026.

“In addition to being able to import electricity from Lao PDR, Keppel will be importing electricity from Malaysia,” the media release stated.

The LTMS-PIP, launched in June 2022, is the first collaboration among the four ASEAN member states on multilateral cross-border electricity trading of renewable energy.

An initial two-year power purchase agreement was signed at the time between Keppel and Laos’ state-owned Electricite du Laos to import up to 100 MW of renewable hydropower via Thailand and Malaysia using existing infrastructure.

With phase two of LTMS-PIP, the amount of electricity traded will double. 

“The LTMS-PIP is crucial to supporting ongoing efforts towards advancing the ASEAN Power Grid and ASEAN Economic Community,” said EMA and Keppel.

“By creating opportunities for multilateral and multidirectional electricity trading in the region, the enhanced LTMS-PIP will strengthen grid resilience and promote energy integration to meet the rising electricity demand in the region.”