Tan See Leng: Indonesian gas cut unlikely to move Singapore power prices short term
Indonesia began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore on 24 October. Singapore's energy minister says the effect on electricity prices should be small in the short term, and the prime minister wants contracts honoured.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Indonesia began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore on Saturday 24 October. Its upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said the aim was to divert more supplies to domestic electricity needs. South China Morning PostN “Indonesia began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore on Saturday. Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said the move was to divert more supplies to domestic electricity needs.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Indonesia on Saturday began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore to divert more supplies to domestic electricity needs.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2Singapore's Energy Market Authority said the reduction of 31 million standard cubic feet of gas a day is less than 2 per cent of Singapore's total daily gas demand. South China Morning PostN “the reduction of 31 million standard cubic feet of gas a day amounts to less than 2 per cent of Singapore’s total daily gas demand.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “the total reduction of 31 million standard cubic feet of gas a day” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Speaking to reporters after the People's Action Party conference on Sunday 25 October, Tan See Leng, Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), said electricity prices are unlikely to be much affected in the short term. CNAN “Electricity prices in the short term are unlikely to be affected by Indonesia cutting natural gas exports to Singapore, said Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng on Sunday” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1He said world prices matter more, because much of Singapore's gas is priced against key global indices. CNAN “we should be looking at the world prices because a lot of our gas, the unit price is actually pegged to the movement of some of the key global index itself,” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Tan said Singapore has contingency measures, including diversified gas sources, a standby liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, and Singapore GasCo being ready to import more LNG when needed. He urged Singaporeans to "keep calm and carry on", saying past reductions had been handled without incident. CNAN “including diversifying sources of natural gas, maintaining its standby liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, and ensuring that Singapore GasCo is ready to import more LNG whenever required.”“keep calm and carry on. We have dealt seamlessly with such reductions in the past without any incident” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2At the same conference, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the gas supplies are covered by commercial contracts. He said Singapore expects all parties to "honour their commitments" and that its gas importer will take the necessary steps to protect its rights and interests. South China Morning PostN “We expect all parties to honour their commitments and Singapore’s gas importer will take the necessary steps to protect its rights and interests under these contracts,” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the conference on Sunday that Singapore expects all parties who have signed commercial gas contracts to “honour their commitments”.” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1Tan described relations with Indonesia as very good at the highest level, citing President Prabowo Subianto and Wong. He said Singapore understands Indonesia may have domestic supply needs and bottlenecks, and that it is "early days" and the government will keep monitoring. CNAN “Singapore has very good relations with Indonesia at the highest level of government, particularly between President Prabowo Subianto and Mr Wong.”“The exact details moving forward, I think these are still early days, and we will continue to monitor the situation very closely.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2About 95 per cent of Singapore's electricity is generated from natural gas. In 2025, piped gas from Indonesia and Malaysia made up 43 per cent of gas imports and LNG made up 57 per cent. South China Morning PostN “About 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity is generated using natural gas” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “In 2025, piped natural gas accounted for 43 per cent of Singapore's total gas imports, while LNG made up the remaining 57 per cent.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2Wong said Singapore has invested in LNG terminals so it can import gas without relying on pipelines. He said it must also look to cleaner round-the-clock power sources, and that authorities are studying nuclear energy, with an International Atomic Energy Agency assessment starting in 2027. Tan added that biomethane, geothermal and solar are also being explored, and that no nuclear decision has been made. South China Morning PostN “From 2027, Singapore will be embarking on an assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Singapore is also exploring alternative energy sources, including biomethane, geothermal and solar.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the cut as manageable and lead with the government's reassurance. CNA focuses on Tan See Leng's price comment, and the SCMP piece, a CNA story, leads with Wong's call for contracts to be honoured as part of a wider PAP conference speech.
- Emphasis
- Small size of the cut, diversified supply, LNG backup, global price links, good relations with Indonesia, longer-term nuclear study.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries views from Indonesia beyond SKK Migas's one-line reason, nor from analysts or the gas importer.
- Charged language
- “keep calm and carry on”“honour their commitments”
- For example
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“keep calm and carry on. We have dealt seamlessly with such reductions in the past without any incident” — CNA
“We expect all parties to honour their commitments” — South China Morning Post
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Indonesia began cutting gas exports to Singapore on 24 October to serve its domestic power needs.
- The cut of 31 million standard cubic feet a day is under 2 per cent of Singapore's daily gas demand.
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said all parties should honour their commercial gas contracts.
- Singapore is studying nuclear energy and has not made a decision.
Tan See Leng person
Says short-term electricity prices should not be much affected, since global gas prices drive costs, and that Singapore has layered contingency measures. He also stresses good ties with Indonesia.
“In the short term, the prices would not really affect that much.” — CNA
Lawrence Wong person
Says gas supplies are under commercial contracts that all parties should honour, and that the importer will protect its rights. He argues for diversifying beyond gas, including studying nuclear power.
“Singapore’s gas importer will take the necessary steps to protect its rights and interests under these contracts,” — South China Morning Post
Indonesia place
Its regulator SKK Migas said the export reduction is meant to divert supply to domestic electricity needs. Tan said Singapore understands Indonesia may have supply needs and bottlenecks.
“SKK Migas said the move was to divert more supplies to domestic electricity needs.” — South China Morning Post
Singapore place
The Energy Market Authority says the cut is under 2 per cent of daily gas demand. Officials point to LNG terminals and diversified imports as protection.
“It has invested in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to import natural gas from different countries” — South China Morning Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre5 articles
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Singapore tells suppliers to ‘honour commitments’ amid Indonesia’s gas cut
Neutral A CNA story carried by the SCMP. It reports Wong's PAP conference speech, led by the gas-contract comment, then covers nuclear, haze and governance themes.
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CNAN ·
Neutral Reports the minister's reassurance on prices, with the supply-mix context and Indonesia relations.
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CNAN ·
Indonesia's gas cuts to Singapore put spotlight on domestic energy needs, economic trade-offs
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Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 03:38 First South China Morning PostN Singapore tells suppliers to ‘honour commitments’ amid Indonesia’s gas cut
- 25 Oct 05:07 +1h 29m CNAN Indonesia gas supply cut unlikely to have much impact on Singapore electricity prices in short term: Tan See Leng
- 26 Oct 10:33 +30h 55m CNAN Indonesia's gas cuts to Singapore put spotlight on domestic energy needs, economic trade-offs
- 26 Oct 10:44 +31h 6m South China Morning PostN Indonesia defends Singapore gas cuts, cites rising domestic needs and contractual limits
- 26 Oct 11:17 +31h 40m CNAN Indonesia says gas export cuts to Singapore within contractual limits, pledges to honour obligations
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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