India and Singapore are exploring a proposed 2,000 MW cross-border electricity interconnection as Singapore faces delays in developing its planned low-carbon power import pipeline. The proposed link could strengthen regional electricity trade, improve energy security and support the integration of renewable energy across South and Southeast Asia.
Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik announced the discussions at the 20th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Manila. One option under consideration is a land-based transmission corridor of approximately 3,000 kilometres connecting Imphal in India to Singapore through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
The proposal comes as Singapore works towards its ambition of importing 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035. According to analysis by Wood Mackenzie, none of the 9.25 GW of approved electricity import projects has reached financial close or entered construction. As a result, electricity imports are now expected to account for around 15% of Singapore’s electricity generation mix by 2035, approximately half the level implied by its original import ambition.
Singapore’s Clean Energy Import Plans Face Delays
Singapore’s electricity system remains heavily dependent on natural gas, which accounts for as much as 95% of its power generation. Limited land availability restricts the scope for large-scale domestic renewable energy projects, making imported electricity an important part of the country’s decarbonisation strategy.
The 6 GW import target is intended to meet approximately one-third of Singapore’s projected electricity demand. However, translating approved projects into operational electricity supply has proved challenging, with regulatory uncertainty, financing constraints and cross-border infrastructure requirements slowing progress.
The proposed India-Singapore connection could provide another potential route for regional power cooperation. If developed, the interconnection could help facilitate electricity trade across national boundaries while creating opportunities to integrate renewable generation into a broader regional grid.
India Offers Expertise in Renewable Energy and Grid Integration
During the East Asia Summit meeting, Naik reiterated India’s willingness to share its experience in large-scale renewable energy deployment, grid integration, transmission planning, energy storage, green hydrogen and clean energy technologies with participating countries.
He also called for stronger institutional cooperation between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and Indian organisations, including NTPC, POWERGRID, the Central Electricity Authority, the National Institute of Wind Energy, the National Institute of Solar Energy and the National Power Training Institute.
The proposed interconnection aligns with wider regional efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Power Grid and expand multilateral electricity trade. However, the India-Singapore proposal remains under exploration, with further technical, regulatory and commercial assessments needed before a project can advance.
Indonesian Regulations Complicate Singapore’s Import Pipeline
Indonesia accounts for approximately 37% of Singapore’s approved electricity import pipeline, according to the Wood Mackenzie analysis cited in the supplied report. Six projects have received conditional licences indicating that they have met specified technical and commercial feasibility requirements.
However, progress has been constrained by Indonesia’s electricity regulations. The report identifies provisions requiring export permits to be renewed every five years and allowing export quotas to be revoked if domestic electricity supply is threatened.
These conditions create uncertainty for projects that require long-term financing agreements, which typically depend on predictable revenues over periods of around 20 years. A 40% local-content requirement presents an additional challenge, particularly for projects that need large-scale battery energy storage systems to meet Singapore’s firm-power requirements.
Without agreed electricity prices, bankable offtake contracts and dependable revenue arrangements, developers may struggle to reach final investment decisions and begin construction.
Malaysia-Singapore Interconnector Offers an Existing Route
The existing Malaysia-Singapore high-voltage direct current interconnector provides up to 1 GW of bidirectional transmission capacity. Its availability offers a potential advantage over proposed routes that require new cross-border transmission infrastructure.
In August 2026, Singapore’s Energy Market Authority approved 900 MW of electricity imports from Johor, Malaysia. Of this capacity, Sembcorp Utilities secured a 300 MW project linked to floating solar and battery storage, while Ditrolic Energy’s Southern Solar Alliance secured the remaining 600 MW project.
The Southern Solar Alliance project is backed by BlackRock’s Climate Finance Partnership and the International Finance Corporation.
Sembcorp could begin delivering electricity through existing infrastructure by 2029. Delivering the additional 600 MW, however, is expected to require a second interconnector. That project remains at the feasibility-study stage, creating the possibility of delays beyond 2030.
The development illustrates how existing transmission links can accelerate cross-border electricity trade, while new infrastructure projects face lengthy planning, financing and construction requirements.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia Face Export Barriers
Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia collectively account for approximately 43% of Singapore’s approved electricity import pipeline, but the projects associated with these countries remain at the conditional-approval stage, according to the supplied analysis.
Vietnam faces regulatory barriers because its framework does not yet provide a clear mechanism for foreign developers to build generation projects and export electricity through dedicated subsea cables. Although Decree 272, issued in July 2026, opened the offshore wind sector to foreign investment, cross-border transmission and electricity export arrangements remain unresolved.
Cambodia’s proposed contribution also faces significant obstacles. The country lacks an established electricity export framework and sufficient surplus generation capacity, while the supplied report describes limited publicly visible progress on relevant projects over more than three years. Domestic electricity reliability remains another concern.
Australia’s Sun Cable project faces a different challenge. Approximately 3,700 km of its proposed 4,500 km cable route passes through Indonesian territorial waters. A survey permit approved in 2025 does not authorise the installation of the cable itself, leaving further regulatory and implementation requirements to be addressed.
Regional Grid Integration Remains a Long-Term Opportunity
The proposed India-Singapore power connection highlights the potential for cross-border electricity trade to support renewable energy integration, diversify electricity supply and improve regional energy security. It could also create opportunities for India to contribute its expertise in transmission planning, grid management and renewable energy deployment to Southeast Asian markets.
However, Singapore’s experience demonstrates that approval of electricity import projects does not automatically translate into operational power supply. Regulatory certainty, cross-border agreements, financing, storage requirements and transmission infrastructure all play a critical role in determining whether projects proceed.
For the proposed 2,000 MW India-Singapore connection, the immediate task remains assessing the available routes and establishing the technical, regulatory and commercial arrangements needed to make cross-border electricity trade viable.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and official statements. Readers are advised to refer to official announcements for further details.
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