SINGAPORE'S EMISSION STANDARDS

SINGAPORE'S EMISSION STANDARDS

5.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the level of fine particulate matter in Singapore exceeds the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and, if so, what is being done to ensure that WHO standards are met; (b) how harmful are the fuel emissions from the refineries on Jurong Island and what is their impact on our environment; (c) whether the operation of Tuas Power's coal-fired power station will aggravate the air quality; and (d) what are the Ministry's plans for monitoring the emissions released by the coal-fired power station once it begins operations.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set interim and long-term targets for PM2.5 in its Air Quality Guidelines to protect public from the adverse health effects of fine particles. Three interim targets of 35 µg/m3, 25 µg/m3 and 15 µg/m3 were set to guide countries as they work towards achieving the long-term air quality target of 10 µg/m3.

Singapore’s PM2.5 level in 2010 of 17µg/m3 meets the first two interim targets, and compares well with other major cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Vienna, Zurich and Sydney which are currently also not able to meet the WHO long-term target.

One of the key targets set by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) is to reduce the PM2.5 levels in our ambient air to 12 µg/m3 by 2020. We will periodically review our target based on international benchmarks and our national circumstances.

As with many countries, industries and motor vehicles are the major sources of PM2.5 in Singapore, which account for 30% and 50% of the local sources respectively.

In 2006, we tightened the emission standards for new diesel vehicles from Euro II to Euro IV. We will consider tighter emission standards such as the Euro V emission standard when it is timely and cost effective to do so.

My Ministry has also been working closely with relevant Government agencies and industry partners to mitigate air pollutants of concern from the emissions of refineries on Jurong Island. To control SO2 emissions, the quality of fuels used by the industries has been tightened over the years – sulphur content in diesel was lowered to 0.005% (by weight) in December 2005 and sulphur content in fuel oil was lowered to 1% in December 2000. In addition, major emitters are required to cap their total emissions of SO2. Industries on Jurong Island are also encouraged to use cleaner fuels such as natural gas (NG) for their energy needs, as NG has negligible sulphur content.

As for the Member’s query on coal-fired power stations, these tend to emit more pollutants than a natural gas-fired plant. Hence, NEA has required the proposed coal-fired power station on Jurong Island to use higher quality coal that is low in ash and sulphur content. In addition, NEA has imposed stringent pollution control systems on the power plant to minimise pollutant emissions. The power plant is also required to install a continuous emission monitoring system that will provide real time data to NEA on the emissions from its chimneys.

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