Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, says that from 24 October 2026 it is diverting part of the pipeline gas exported to Singapore to domestic power generation. Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) said the same day that the reduction amounts to less than 2% of Singapore's daily gas demand and that contingency plans are in place. About 95% of Singapore's electricity comes from natural gas, and in 2025 gas also produced nearly half of Taiwan's electricity. The situation in both places is set out below.

How much gas is being diverted

A pipe-laying vessel in tropical waters lowering a subsea pipeline onto a coral seabed, with green islands in the distance
Laying a subsea gas pipeline (AI-generated illustration)

According to CNA, SKK Migas said the diversion is about 31 million standard cubic feet per day (31 MMSCFD): 15 million from the Natuna fields and 16 million from Sumatra.

  • Natuna gas goes through the West Natuna Transportation System and the Pulau Pemping–Batam pipeline to power plants of the state utility PLN on Batam
  • Sumatra gas goes through the TGI pipeline to power generation on Batam, Bintan and Sumatra
  • SKK Migas said the aim is to "safeguard the reliability of domestic gas supplies for electricity generation", citing Article 8(1) of Indonesia's Oil and Gas Law

The EMA described the impact in a different unit. Gas importers reported a reduction of about 17 BBTUD (billion British thermal units per day) over 18 days, while Singapore's daily gas demand exceeds 1,000 BBTUD. The Straits Times reported Indonesia's diversion as 31 BBTUD. Because the sources use different units and scopes, the figures should be read separately.

On 22 October, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia could stop gas exports to countries that do not respect it. SKK Migas did not link the diversion to those remarks.

Singapore's gas mix and response

A gas-fired power plant with tall stacks on the waterfront beside a city skyline
A waterfront gas-fired power plant and city skyline (AI-generated illustration)

In 2025, piped gas made up 43% of Singapore's gas imports and LNG 57%. Piped gas comes from Indonesia and Malaysia; LNG arrives by ship.

The EMA listed these measures:

  • Past reductions of 20 to 100 BBTUD per day, caused by upstream maintenance, were all made up from other sources without affecting the power supply
  • Generation companies are required to keep fuel reserves, including diesel
  • Singapore GasCo, the central gas procurer, is ready to import more LNG if needed

Gas Supply, a gas importer owned by Temasek, said deliveries to customers were affected by "temporary reductions" upstream. Indonesia agreed in 2022 to extend pipeline gas supply to Singapore until 2028, at lower volumes than before.

Analysts quoted in the reports expect little price impact this time, but noted that a larger LNG share brings higher costs and more exposure to swings in international prices.

Taiwan: all imported gas arrives as LNG

Large white LNG storage tanks and an unloading jetty on a coast below green mountains
An LNG receiving terminal and storage tanks on the coast (AI-generated illustration)

Taiwan has no cross-border gas pipelines, so all of its imported natural gas is LNG. According to the Energy Administration's Energy Statistics Handbook 2025:

  • Natural gas generated 47.69% of Taiwan's electricity in 2025, against 35.29% for coal, 13.32% for renewables and 1.12% for nuclear
  • About 79.54% of natural gas consumption went to power generation
  • LNG imports in 2025 were about 30.84 billion cubic metres

Within Taiwan Power Company's own system, gas accounts for 53.3% of generation.

Safety stock rules

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) rule on storage tank capacity for natural gas producers and importers requires:

  • a safety stock of at least 11 days in 2025–2026, rising to at least 14 days from 2027
  • tank capacity of at least 20 days in 2025–2026, rising to at least 24 days from 2027

In a statement on 14 April 2026, the MOEA said Japan has no natural gas safety stock requirement and South Korea's is 9 days. It also said Taiwan had no gas shortages after the Middle East conflict that began on 28 February.

Import sources

A map of LNG routes to Taiwan from Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca, from Australia and from Indonesia, labelled 33.7%, 33.5% and 2.0%
Taiwan's main LNG import sources and shipping routes in 2025 (AI-generated illustration)

Energy Administration data show that in 2025 Taiwan's LNG came mainly from Qatar (33.68%) and Australia (33.52%), followed by the United States (9.87%), Papua New Guinea (7.88%) and Brunei (2.84%). Indonesia supplied 1.97%. In 2005 Indonesia supplied 51.30% and was the largest source. The MOEA said in September 2025 that Taiwan imported LNG from 14 countries in 2024.

Side by side

Singapore Taiwan
Gas share of power About 95% 47.69% (2025)
Supply route Pipeline 43%, LNG 57% (2025 imports) All LNG
Main risk Decisions by pipeline supplier countries Shipping and the international LNG market
Buffers Replacement from other sources, generator fuel reserves, central procurement Statutory safety stock of 11 days (14 days from 2027), diverse import sources

In Singapore's case, a cut from one pipeline source can be covered with LNG. Taiwan has no pipelines, so its risk sits with shipping and the international LNG market, and its main buffers are the statutory safety stock and a spread of import sources.

Sources