{
  "id": 16276592,
  "title": "S'pore to import biomethane, a low-carbon alternative to natural gas, with wider adoption from 2028",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/spore-to-import-biomethane-a-low-carbon-alternative-to-natural-gas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T16:55:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/10/spore-biomethane-2028/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore has initiated a pilot programme to import and utilize biomethane, a low-carbon substitute for natural gas, starting in 2028. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade, and Industry Gan Kim Yong unveiled the programme on October 23, announcing that Keppel Energy, Sembcorp Utilities, and Tuas Power Generation are responsible for importing and supplying biomethane into the country. This endeavor was shared during his opening remarks at the inaugural Singapore Industry Decarbonisation Forum, organized by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with A*STAR and the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office.\n\nBeyond the biomethane pilot, Gan unveiled additional METI initiatives to assist Singapore in reducing carbon emissions across various sectors. The nation aims to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Biomethane, generated from organic waste, serves as a renewable gas that can serve as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel-based natural gas. Notably, biomethane aligns with Singapore's existing gas infrastructure, facilitating seamless adoption without substantial modifications.\n\nApproximately 95% of Singapore's electricity derives from natural gas, rendering biomethane a pertinent subject. Gan disclosed that METI established a regulatory sandbox in 2025, enabling Singapore to address challenges related to biomethane adoption – including supply chains, commercial arrangements, and regulatory frameworks. The objective is for biomethane to support up to 300 megawatts of energy by 2028, with the pilot aiming to enable industries to deploy new low-carbon solutions.\n\nGan emphasized that Singapore's industries constitute around 65% of the country's emissions, encompassing the electricity they consume. Consequently, these industries must be addressed within Singapore's net-zero objectives. He highlighted that Singapore faces constraints such as limited land and renewable energy resources, complex operating requirements for industries, and the potential incompatibility of low-carbon technologies from other countries with Singapore's context. Consequently, the government has allocated S$800 million to the Decarbonisation Grand Challenge (DGC), which supports promising technologies to lower emissions.\n\nUnder the DGC, S$143 million will be directed towards the Industry Decarbonisation Funding Initiative. Out of this sum, S$100 million is earmarked for research and development led by companies, who will identify their own decarbonisation challenges and co-develop solutions with Singapore. The initiative will also seek partnerships with clean energy investors and accelerators, including Temasek Holdings, Energy Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy, and SG Growth Capital. New partnerships have also been established with funds and organizations from abroad, such as Main Sequence Ventures, Extantia, and the Rocky Mountain Institute.\n\nGan further announced funding for the Low-Carbon Technology Translational Testbed, or LCT³, to be hosted at A*STAR's Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy, and Environment on Jurong Island. This test-bedding platform allows companies and researchers to assess new technologies, such as carbon dioxide conversion into sustainable aviation fuel or ammonia-to-hydrogen production technology. Gan reiterated Singapore's approach to its net-zero journey: their goal is to lower emissions from factories and plants while maintaining industry competitiveness and job security.",
  "summary": "Other efforts by METI to help industries decarbonise include programmes to accelerate R&D and connect researchers with industry, Gan said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}