Singapore plans pipeline network
Date:2019-10-11 Click:1061
Singapore's government said yesterday it will
build an integrated pipeline network within five years to prevent a repeat of
the sudden loss of gas supply which led to power blackouts in parts of the
island this month.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry Raymond Lim told parliament the
current gas pipeline from Indonesia's offshore West Natuna field and a new
pipeline due to come on stream next year from Sumatra will be connected to the
network.
"Interconnection will enable us to have gas from one source backing up
supply from another, thus giving our system greater resilience," Lim said.
On August 5, a sudden disruption to gas flows from the Natuna field knocked out
25 per cent of Singapore's power generation capability, causing some areas to
lose power for up to 90 minutes.
Lim said the disruption occurred at an Onshore Receiving Facility onJurongIslandoperated by Conoco Indonesia Inc Ltd when an emergency shutdown valve was
triggered during routine maintenance.
"The public was understandably alarmed that a disruption in gas supply
could have caused such blackouts over parts ofSingapore," Lim said.
The city state is gradually moving away from using oil for power generation and
using cleaner-burning gas.
Lim said, in the longer term, the Energy Market Authority was studying the
feasibility of bringing liquefied natural gas intoSingaporeto further diversify gas
sources.