Singapore could tap underground geothermal energy to power the country for 60 years, says Tan See Leng

Amid all the recent discussions surrounding Singapore's serious consideration of nuclear power, another form of energy has garnered attention this week. The city-state's potential for geothermal energy, generated from high-temperature resources deep beneath the ground, has been revealed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA). The government is planning further studies to determine how this energy could be harnessed and utilized.

Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Tan See Leng stated that if Singapore successfully taps into this geothermal energy, the country could be powered by it for up to 60 years. At the Singapore International Energy Week 2026, he described the initial findings as "a very good start" that left him "very pleasantly surprised." However, Tan cautioned that it will likely take many years before a decision is made to deploy geothermal power in Singapore.

Safety is the most important factor to consider, and the densely populated urban environment will also impact how geothermal energy can be deployed in the city-state. Nevertheless, Tan reaffirmed Singapore's open-minded approach and expressed that no option is off the table. The EMA has appointed a consortium comprised of Surbana Jurong and GLJ Ltd to conduct a feasibility study on the potential deployment of next-generation geothermal plants in Singapore.

The study, which will examine safety considerations, technical viability, and the cost of geothermal energy production, is expected to be completed within 15 months. According to Puah Kok Keong, Chief Executive of EMA, geothermal energy is an indigenous source of clean energy that can provide consistent power and could play a significant role in Singapore's energy mix, strengthening the country's energy resilience and supporting the decarbonization of the power sector.