Executive Director meets with Prime Minister Wong of Singapore to discuss energy security and cooperation

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol met today with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore to discuss the international impacts and implications of the Strait of Hormuz crisis and Singapore’s efforts to strengthen energy security and transitions.

In their bilateral meeting at the Istana, the Prime Minister of Singapore’s official office, Prime Minister Wong and Dr Birol spoke about recent developments in oil and gas markets, and Singapore’s efforts to bolster energy security through diversification of fuels and technologies, including through nuclear power. They also discussed the success of the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore, which has now been operating for almost two years, and interest in further expanding the IEA’s work in support of Southeast Asia’s energy priorities going forward.

During his visit, Dr Birol also met with Singapore’s Energy Minister Dr Tan See Leng. They discussed Singapore’s energy priorities for its Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2027 and how the IEA can support efforts to enhance energy security, resilience and sustainability across the region.

Dr Birol also spoke at the opening of Singapore International Energy Week, delivering scene-setting remarks in which he highlighted that while Southeast Asia has been on the front lines of the current energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East, it can also be at the forefront of driving solutions to ensure greater resilience to future shocks. He emphasised that, by building on a strong foundation of trust and cooperation, the region can write a new chapter in energy security. Dr Birol and other members of the IEA delegation also participated in the 10th edition of the Singapore-IEA Forum at Singapore International Energy Week.

In Singapore, Dr Birol also met with other government and business leaders, including Temasek Chief Executive Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara;  the Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof of Malaysia; India’s Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik; and EDF Chief Executive Bernard Fontana.

Dr Birol also took the opportunity to visit the IEA staff members at the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore – the Agency’s first and only  office overseas from its Paris headquarters – to thank them for their work and discuss priorities going forward.