Bhutan’s 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project reviewed at SIEW
Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik discussed energy cooperation under the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including the proposed cross-border electricity interconnection between the two countries during his visit to an international energy conference held in the city state.
Naik, who met Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Energy and Trade and Industry, invited long-term Singaporean investment in transmission, pumped storage, battery storage and renewable energy in India.
Naik also discussed with Gan was cooperation in green hydrogen and ammonia, energy efficiency, and partnerships between Indian power equipment manufacturers and Singapore’s utilities.
Naik attended the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) held 26-30 Oct.
He also met other Ministers at the energy week.
During his meeting with Lyonpo Sonam Tashi, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Bhutan, reviewed progress on the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, where dam works have progressed steadily since concreting resumed in April 2026, and noted the satisfactory operations of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II project.
The two Ministers also discussed the other projects that are under discussion in partnership with Indian entities, along with the cross-border transmission planning up to 2040.
He discussed affordable finance for renewable energy in developing economies, long-term energy planning, green hydrogen and capacity building, including in the ASEAN region, with Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
He appreciated IRENA’s work as a platform for international cooperation on renewable energy and discussed deeper cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between MNRE and IRENA in January 2022. The
Naik met Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA), and welcomed the forthcoming launch of the IEA’s India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026 at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and the India Critical Minerals Report at India Mining Week.
The Minister visited Sembcorp’s 326 MWh Battery Energy Storage System Plant at Jurong Island. Comprising of 800 large-scale lithium-ion phosphate batteries, the Sembcorp Energy Storage System on Jurong Island is the largest utility-scale battery energy storage system (ESS) in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
He also visited Keppel’s 800 TPD 22 MW Waste to Energy Plant in Tuas Region.
The Power Ministry said on 28 Oct that the visit provided an opportunity to share India’s progress in the power and renewable energy sectors and to carry forward India’s energy partnerships with Singapore and other partner countries and agencies.
SIEW 2026 coincided with the 25th year of Singapore’s Energy Market Authority. The Summit was expanded into a two-day event this year and featured the Singapore-IEA Forum, the Singapore-IRENA Forum, and the IAEA at SIEW. Naik participated and delivered a keynote on Day 1 and the Opening Remarks for the 2nd day of the event.
Addressing sessions on the first two days of the event, Naik said India’s installed electricity capacity stood at 558.9 GW as of 30 September 2026, of which about 308 GW, or 55 per cent, came from non-fossil sources. He noted that India achieved 50 per cent non-fossil installed capacity in June 2025, five years ahead of its 2030 NDC target, and is now working towards 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
Highlighting progress under the flagship schemes, he said that around 53 lakh rooftop solar systems had been installed under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, benefiting about 63 lakh households. Under PM-KUSUM, nearly 12 lakh standalone solar pumps have been installed, and more than 17 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps have been solarised, adding about 16.7 GW of decentralised renewable energy capacity and benefiting around 30 lakh farmers. Fiinews.com
