Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology

Question:

To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what is PUB's role in launching the world's largest marine carbon dioxide removal technology and starting operations in Tuas in 2026; (b) whether Singaporean scientists are involved and how Institutes of Higher Learning are preparing students; and (c) whether the plant is grid-powered and how will it will contribute to Singapore's decarbonisation effort.

Answer:

1 PUB, alongside Singapore’s National Research Foundation and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Institute for Carbon Management, is co-funding Equatic's demonstration project in Singapore for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, or OCDR. The project is located at PUB’s Tuas Research and Development facility, leveraging the site's existing infrastructure, particularly the seawater intake and outfall. Equatic’s demonstration plant will be powered by grid electricity.

2 The project aims to validate the potential of OCDR technology. If proven successful and scalable, the technology could be integrated into PUB’s desalination plants. This can contribute to PUB’s and more broadly, Singapore’s journey towards net zero emissions.

3 The core technology for Equatic’s demonstration plant originates from UCLA in the US. Singaporean scientists and institutions are contributing through supporting research, such as the National University of Singapore’s research on the safe management of solid by-products from the OCDR process.