AI Governance & Regulation · 2026-09-09 · 02:02
Tan Kiat How on Singapore's disciplined data centre growth
In Brief
Tan Kiat How explains Singapore will grow data centre capacity in a disciplined way, emphasizing that while AI is important, expansion won't be pursued for its own sake.
Why it matters Parliament Q&A for the first time clarifies the boundary logic of data centre expansion, prioritizing land and energy constraints over competing in the global cluster race
Readable transcript
Caption language: en · Fetched: 2026-09-10
I have two SQs. First one, how does government ensure that data center operations in Singapore remain environmentally sustainable as demand for the AI compute grow? And the second SQ is what are the considerations and balance between the AI push, data security, environmental, sustainability and land use in deciding the number and capacity of data centers to be built locally within Singapore. We are not pursuing capacity for capacity sake and to miss PO's second question which is a pertinent one. Uh we are not chasing how much uh megawatt we can add in Singapore. We also make sure that for we are looking at how to optimize every value added for every megawatt company come to Singapore which includes raising sustainability standards making sure they are resilient digital secure and making sure they add strategic economic value to Singapore.
So that's my first point. So yes, we do want to support the AI needs and the digital economy as it grows because these are essential for future economy but we won't do so at the sake for sake of growing growing the u data center capacity. We do so in a disciplined and cal calibrated way and that is at the heart of the digital infrastructure act which will be u which has been tabled in parliament for first reading yesterday. So our approach is twofold. We are growing new capacity in a disciplined and calibrated way. Making sure that whatever new capacity comes in adds value to Singapore and sustainable and it's um uh uh meets the high requirements on efficiency but at the same time we need to uplift the entire standard and that's through the digital infrastructure act.
So not chasing capacity for its own sake and not is not a force choice between growth and sustainability. We want both and do so in a competitive and sustainable
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