Comprehensive Energy Policy Response to Geopolitical Crisis Including Conservation, Diversification, Strategic Reserves and Targeted Household Assistance
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Singapore’s energy security, strategic stockpiles, and household assistance measures amidst geopolitical instability in the Middle East. Members of Parliament Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Ms He Ting Ru, Ms Valerie Lee, Dr Charlene Chen, Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis, Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim, and Mr Pritam Singh queried supply resilience, conservation, and the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong noted that these issues were addressed in Ministerial Statements on 7 April 2026. Those statements were provided by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs. The response focused on resource diversification, monitoring profiteering through the Committee Against Profiteering, and assessing financial support adequacy for lower and middle-income families.
Transcript
1 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether Singapore maintains sufficient strategic stockpiles of key energy and essential inputs to buffer against supply disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict; and (b) how long such buffers can sustain domestic needs under adverse scenarios.
2 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how Singapore’s petrochemical and refining sectors are affected by higher feedstock costs and potential supply disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict; and (b) whether there are risks to the output, margins and competitiveness given Singapore’s role as a regional energy and chemicals hub.
3 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how the messages asking households to conserve energy are tailored for lower income households living in smaller, already energy efficient homes; and (b) what is the assessment on whether asking such households to do more on conservation is realistic given their current baseline consumption.
4 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government is considering any mandatory energy-saving measures to cope with rising energy prices and possible energy shortage scenarios; and (b) if so, what specific initiatives are being evaluated or implemented.
5 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the scope of the Committee Against Profiteering (CAP) can be expanded to investigate feedback on disproportionate increases in utility and petrol prices attributed to the Middle East conflict; and (b) what measures are in place to ensure that businesses do not increase prices excessively with global volatility as a pretext.
6 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry under the joint statement with Australia on energy security on 23 March 2026 (a) whether quantitative targets have been set for the flow of petroleum oils such as diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) between Singapore and Australia; and (b) whether LNG supply commitments have been secured from Australia and if so, at what prices.
7 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the economic uncertainty due to the war in Iran (a) what are the specific triggers that the Government uses to determine whether to introduce additional support for lower and middle-income families; and (b) how does the Government assess whether the level of support given to families are adequate.
8 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what progress has been made in diversifying Singapore’s sources of energy, food, and other critical imports in light of the Iran war; and (b) whether any further stockpiling or diversification measures are being considered.
9 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of developments in the Strait of Hormuz (a) whether the Ministry expects rising gas prices to be passed through to electricity prices in Singapore; (b) what range of price increases is anticipated; (c) whether financial support will be provided to households not receiving U-Save rebates; and (d) what gas price levels will trigger such support.
10 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how does the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 enhance Singapore's energy security against high energy prices; and (b) under the Partnership, what specific measures have been implemented to compensate for the disruption of LNG supplies from Qatar to Singapore.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: These questions were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in their Ministerial Statements on the Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Parliamentary Sitting on 7 April 2026.