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SINGAPORE: At a small plot of land just 600m from Sembawang Hot Spring, researchers have found subsurface temperatures of 122 degrees Celsius - the highest recorded in Singapore to date.  Measured at a depth of about 1.76km, the discovery surpassed earlier findings in Admiralty, where a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius was detected at a depth of 1.12km in 2022.  Dr Jonathan Poh, a research fellow at the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (Nanyang Technological University), described the discovery as a “huge milestone” in Singapore’s geothermal exploration efforts. The data will contribute to geothermal feasibility studies, fuelling the possibility of harnessing geothermal energy as a future energy source. Currently, about 95 per cent of Singapore's energy is generated by burning natural gas, a fossil fuel.   Geothermal energy, derived from heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface, is a renewable resource that can be tapped for applications such as cooling and industrial heating, the researchers said. The study was led by around 15 researchers from NTU and TUMCREATE, in collaboration with Surbana Jurong.  TUMCREATE is a research platform involving the Technical University of Munich, other universities, public agencies and industry partners. The findings were part of a national study supported by the National Research Foundation and the Energy Market Authority (EMA).  Four researchers from the team sat down with members of the media on Thursday (Jun 3) to share insights from their findings.  The 900 square metre site at Gambas Avenue in Sembawang, where the second borehole was drilled. (Photo: NTU) IDENTIFYING SITES  When the researchers were exploring geothermal energy in Singapore, their initial plan was to drill several shallow wells at different parts of the country to identify potential sites.  However, they noticed that the northern region tended to be hotter. Based on their analysis, heat flow at the northern part of Singapore is at least twice the global continental average, despite Singapore not being situated in a volcanic region.  To identify suitable drilling sites, the team considered several criteria. First, the locations needed to have good road access and around 1,600 square metres of open space. The sites also had to be some distance from the hot spring and faults in the Earth’s surface.  Given Singapore’s limited land availability, the researchers said the sites in Admiralty and Sembawang eventually met all the requirements. Both sites sit on Simpang granite, a type of rock with a high concentration of naturally occurring heat-generating elements, making it ideal for harnessing geothermal energy.  “If there is a thick crust full of this type of granite, it can possibly contribute up to about 40 per cent of the total heat flow measured at the surface,” said Dr Poh.  Using current data, the researchers found that there is potential for temperatures to reach 230 degrees Celsius 5km deep - well above the minimum of 150 degrees Celsius typically needed for generating electricity. The researchers are now exploring different heat extraction technologies that could be used in Singapore.  “In Singapore, as we are not sitting on a volcano or near a volcano zone, we need this kind of newly developed systems which allow us to extract heat,” said Mr Anurag Chidire, a research associate at TUMCREATE. (From left) Associate professor Wu Wei from NTU's School of Civil and Environment Engineering, Dr Jonathan Poh, research fellow at the Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Professor Alessandro Romagnoli, cluster director at ERI@N and Mr Anurag…see more COST SAVINGS, REDUCED EMISSIONS  As Singapore works towards its net-zero emissions target by 2050, geothermal energy is emerging as a compelling option, the researchers said.  To evaluate potential cost savings using both systems, researchers modelled and simulated their application in electricity generation and chilled water production used in Singapore’s district cooling system.  In one simulation, electricity generation costs were reduced by at least 38 per cent, while chilled water costs dropped by 39 per cent.  Geothermal energy could also potentially bring cost savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90 per cent, the researchers found.  “Singapore is prudent enough to know that they want to diversify their electricity mix in future. They do not want to go only with 100 per cent imports, or go only with hydrogen, or only solar,” said Mr Chidire, noting that solar power is limited. “That is the reason why geothermal can play an important role in the diversification of Singapore's electricity, by enhancing the security and aligning with all the environmental cost aspects.”  WHAT’S NEXT  Dr Poh said the new data has motivated the EMA to launch a geophysical survey, which will provide the researchers with a baseline understanding of Singapore’s subsurface and identify other areas with geothermal potential.  For now, they are awaiting the outcome of the geophysical study, which is likely to be released at the end of 2026.  The researchers are also trying to engage with other countries to support their geothermal work, he added. Professor Alessandro Ramognoli, who leads the joint research team, added that current data is already “quite compelling”. “From our side, what we are working on is to see whether we can bring together the public sector, together with the private sector, to go for a pilot demonstration plan,” he said, adding that the pilot demonstration will help them study what it entails to actually deploy geothermal energy. “Rather than keep studying and doing desktop studies, that's what we should do next,” he said. 

SINGAPORE – A man who ran an online vice syndicate to recruit Japanese women for prostitution in Singapore was sentenced to a year’s jail and fined $4,000. Goh Boon Hong, 25, pleaded guilty to five charges on June 30, including harbouring women for the purpose of prostitution and living on prostitution earnings. In August 2024, Goh, who is Malaysian, was hired by a man named Wong Chi San to be a member of the syndicate. Initially, Goh received a 10 per cent commission from the prostitution earnings. This was later increased to 20 per cent. In January 2025, Goh took over the syndicate’s operations after Wong was arrested. Details of Wong’s case were not mentioned in court documents. That month, a 26-year-old Japanese woman, identified in court documents as A1, accepted Goh’s invite to prostitute herself in Singapore from February to March. A1 extended the invitation to her 27-year-old Japanese friend A2, who also accepted. Over nine days at the Marina Bay Sands hotel, A1 provided sexual services to 44 customers. She earned $14,800 from them, and was paid 1.24 million yen (S$10,900) by Goh. A2 served 37 customers, earning $11,100. Goh paid her 830,000 yen. Goh worked with an accomplice, Chinese national Zhang Kai, who booked the hotel rooms. On top of the hotel room charges, Goh paid Zhang $50 per room per day for procuring the hotel rooms. Zhang would also help Goh to set up inflatable beds and massage gels in the toilets of the hotel rooms. Initially, Goh paid Zhang $500 for each toilet set-up. This was subsequently increased to $600 after Zhang complained of the risk involved in carrying out these prostitution operations. Goh also paid Zhang $2,100 for his services over the nine-day period and kept the rest of the prostitution earnings. The offences came to light on March 7 when the police conducted an anti-vice operation at Marina Bay Sands and Goh was arrested. Zhang’s case is still before the courts, with his pre-trial conference set for July 17. Those convicted of harbouring a woman for the purpose of prostitution can be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to $100,000.  

SINGAPORE – A work group has been formed by the Government, following a call by the labour movement to tackle the issue of foreigners illegally doing delivery work here and impacting the earnings of platform workers. The trilateral work group consists of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Grab Singapore, as well as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) along with its affiliated associations. In a joint statement on July 4, MOM and MOT said that the group will be overseen by Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, and Grab’s group managing director of operations Yee Wee Tang. This comes after Mr Ng had earlier on July 4 called on the Government to form such a work group to address the issue, as well as other challenges facing platform workers, who contract with platform operators to provide services, primarily in ride hailing and delivery. Their ranks here include private-hire drivers working for companies like Grab and Gojek, and delivery riders for services like GrabFood, foodpanda and Deliveroo. Mr Ng said in a statement: “Our platform workers are vulnerable, as they face a variety of challenges in making a living. It is not right that they suffer from reduced earnings due to competition from illegal workers.” NTUC said it had received feedback about such illegal practices through its regular engagement with platform workers. “Some of these foreigners illegally take on delivery jobs directly on platforms by misusing accounts,” said NTUC. “This is not allowed, as platform work can be undertaken only by Singaporeans.” NTUC also noted that platform operators here are allowed to outsource delivery jobs to other companies, which can hire foreigners with work permits to fulfil the jobs. However, there have been reports of some foreigners illegally performing such jobs without work permits, it said. “This creates illegal or unfair competition for our delivery workers, and it has a direct impact on their earnings,” it added. This latest problem comes on top of other challenges that platform workers already face, such as income instability, noted NTUC. Such instability can be caused by drivers or riders having a lack of clarity on what kind of jobs they will be allocated and how much they will earn, as these are determined by algorithms. Platform companies also have incentive schemes that encourage longer working hours, which can lead to safety issues, NTUC added. The labour movement noted that, in the past year, unauthorised ride-hailing services have also sprouted up on messaging apps like Telegram, eating into the ride-hailing pie and reducing the earnings of private-hire drivers. MOM and MOT said the trilateral group will collectively address these challenges faced by the workers, and “safeguard their well-being in view of the rapidly evolving platform economy”. The ministries added that the proactive participation of Grab, a key player in Singapore’s platform economy, sends a strong signal on the commitment of platform operators in collaborating with the Government and NTUC to address salient issues. “We will explore bringing the other platform operators into the discussions subsequently,” said the ministries. A Grab spokesman said in a statement that the company is committed to working alongside the Government, NTUC and other platform operators to stamp out illegal delivery services and safeguard the livelihoods of platform workers. The spokesman added that Grab has measures in place to prevent foreigners from registering as platform workers, and will work as part of the group to share and co-develop best practices. The ministries also said that the new trilateral group will be a regular platform for the Government to support efforts to resolve issues that may require regulatory intervention. In a Facebook post, Mr Ng said that NTUC and its associations – the National Delivery Champions Association, the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and the National Taxi Association – have successfully championed the rights of platform workers through the passage of the Platform Workers Act, which came into effect in 2025. Under the Act, platform operators are required to provide work injury compensation insurance for platform workers, and to pay more in Central Provident Fund contributions, among other things. “But more must be done, and quickly,” Mr Ng added. This is as challenges such as foreigners doing delivery jobs illegally make it harder for platform workers to earn a stable income to support themselves and their families, he said.

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