Singapore must boost drive to be clean-energy hub

Singapore must keep up in fast-emerging green sector, says NMP Edwin Khew
Alvin Foo, Straits Times 27 Feb 08;

LOOK at Singapore's competition: Abu Dhabi has pledged to spend US$15 billion (S$21 billion) on a cutting-edge city based on renewable energy.

Closer to home, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, India and China all have aggressive initiatives designed to attract renewable energy companies and related investments.

In the face of this fierce competition, Singapore must maintain its momentum in the fast-emerging green sector to become a clean-energy hub.

The call came in yesterday's Budget debate from Nominated MP Edwin Khew, a waste recycling firm boss.

He urged Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to give funding to aid this cause as there was no mention of support for the sector in the Budget.

Mr Khew said: 'We should not be complacent, and lose the momentum that we started in 2007.

'There's still much that needs to be done for Singapore to be recognised as a clean-energy hub.'

The lack of 'green' incentives in the Budget for this year, such as tax credits to encourage environmentally sustainable business practices, has left industry players in various sectors disappointed.

He added: 'We should aggressively promote our intentions and walk the talk.'

Still, despite his gripes, Mr Khew, also chairman of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore, praised the Government for a slew of measures last year to boost the clean-energy sector.

These included investing $350 million in clean-energy research and starting the Energy Efficiency Programme Offices.

Last year, Singapore also managed to attract leading Norwegian solar energy company Renewable Energy Corp to build a $6.3 billion solar plant here by 2010.

He said: 'But there are more such companies which are considering Singapore as a base for Asia, but have as yet not committed.'

Singapore is in a good position to be a clean-energy hub, with the right infrastructure and a well-trained technically skilled workforce, he said.

He added: 'Most importantly, the Government and private sector are in sync.'

The green issue was also mentioned by Dr Ahmad Magad (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).

He asked the authorities to consider a system similar to France's green tax on petrol-guzzling cars. There, buyers of new cars with high carbon emission rates face a green tax, while buyers of more energy-friendly cars are given a bonus or rebate.

He said: 'Could our road tax system be tweaked such that it is based on fuel consumption and carbon emission and not just the engine capacity of a vehicle?

'This will complement our efforts to promote a cleaner and greener environment, as car buyers will be further incentivised to buy more fuel-efficient cars and avoid petrol guzzlers.'

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