S'pore residents & businesses urged to save energy: Minister Tan See Leng

Singapore residents and businesses can help to conserve energy by switching to more energy-efficient appliances and adopting energy conservation measures, urged Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng.

Addressing the media during a Mar. 20, 2026 visit to the Singapore LNG (SLNG) Terminal, Tan said this could include setting the aircon to a higher temperature, switching off appliances that are not in use and switching to electric vehicles.

Conserve energy

Tan, who is also manpower minister, encouraged the installation of solar panels as well.

"We could try to reduce the number of private car trips, we could pool together, or we could even try to take more public transport," he said, adding that he thinks those measures would help.

Recent attacks

This comes after the Middle East conflict had turned "significantly more serious" and there does not "seem to be any end to the hostilities", said Tan.

Speaking about the recent attack on Iran's oil facilities on Kharg Island and the retaliatory attack on Ras Laffan liquefaction facility in Qatar which have impacted global oil and gas supply chain, Tan added: "Even if tomorrow, the war stops, the rebuilding of this Ras Laffan facility would take between three and five years, so you can expect that kind of disruption."

The current crisis thus serves as a "stark reminder" that "energy is always existential" for Singapore, he said.

Prepared for multiple contingencies

About 95 per cent of Singapore's electricity is currently generated using imported natural gas, he added.

According to its website, the SLNG Terminal supplies around 50 per cent of Singapore's natural gas demand for power generation, with the capacity to support all of the country's current needs if required.

Though Singapore's situation is stable for now, electricity prices will rise as the situation evolves, said Tan, adding that "there is a lot of downstream impact, because we are one of the largest refinery complexes in the world".

'Pull through this difficult period together'

Noting that "we need to really brace ourselves for a bumpier ride ahead", Tan added that some of the measures announced at Budget 2026 will be helpful.

The government also stands ready to come up with more measures "should it prove to be necessary".

Tan said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely, because we want to also make sure that we have dry powder for us to use when the situation gets worse."

He added that government officers have been working around the clock "making sure that supply chains remain intact".

"So rest assured, we will pull through this difficult period together. We will maintain our reputation, our credibility as well as our resilience," Tan said.

Top photos via Tan See Leng/Facebook