Speech by Minister of Transport Mr S Iswaran at the World Engineers Summit (WES) 2021 Conference Dinner and 55th the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Annual Dinner

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.     A very good evening to all of you.

2.     I am happy to join you today at the World Engineers Summit 2021 Conference. The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) has played an essential role in strengthening our community of engineers over the past few decades. From laying the foundations for nation-building in our earlier years, to supporting our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, our engineering community has contributed significantly, and it has always risen to the challenges of the day. Like what we are seeing now and in our experiences of the last 20 odd months. So, I want to start by thanking all of you and the broader community of engineers for your contributions to Singapore past, present and future. Thank you very much. 

3.     The theme of the conference this year, “Engineering towards a Post-Pandemic Sustainable World” is quite apt. As we adapt to living with COVID-19, one issue in particular has become increasingly important to both Singapore and the world. We do need to think about the longer-term challenges that we have to face as a country and as part of the community of nations - and that is climate change. In the transport sector, sustainability has always been a focal point, and it will remain so as we emerge as a more resilient nation from the pandemic.

Building a sustainable public transport system

4.     Today, land transport accounts for about 15% of our total national carbon emissions. Of this, the largest share comes from private cars.  Under the Singapore Green Plan, our aim is to have 75% of commuters travel by mass public transport by 2030, which is higher than the 64% it is today. 

5.     The work of our engineers is integral in helping us achieve this. For public transport to be the preferred mode of travel, first and foremost, it needs to be reliable. This is especially crucial for our rail system – the backbone of our public transport network. I am very glad that we have exceeded our target of 1 million Mean Kilometres Between Failures (MKBF) in 2019 and have maintained this since then. This is no mean feat. The reliability of our transport system is a reflection of the reliability of our engineering corps, and the strong collaboration among LTA, our public transport operators (PTOs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) suppliers, as well as our many industry partners. 

6.     We can justifiably take pride in this milestone achievement, but we cannot and must not be complacent.  As our rail assets age, it is critical that we continue to harness technology and innovation to sustain this level of service, while improving on cost efficiency. 

7.     At the system level, we also have to make our public transport network more resilient. To that end, over the next decade, we are expanding our rail network at the fastest pace in our history. When the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line are completed by the 2030s, there will be more interchanges connecting the various lines, providing commuters with alternative routes to their destinations. For our trains, LTA will also harness cutting-edge technologies to enhance energy efficiency and improve recyclability such as through minimising single-use materials in the construction of the trains. 

8.     Our green efforts extend beyond the scope of our rail network. We have committed to having a 100% cleaner energy public bus fleet by 2040 and have deployed 50 diesel hybrid buses and 60 electric buses so far. This is a good step forward. 

9.     Our PTOs have also collaborated closely with us on green technologies. For example, Go-Ahead Singapore conducted a six-month proof-of-concept trial to assess the use of ultra-thin solar panels on the roof of buses to capture and harness solar energy. SBST’s Ulu Pandan Bus Depot was also honoured at the ASEAN Energy Awards 2021, for being the first bus depot in Singapore to power its facility through a photovoltaic solar panel system, comprising more than 2,000 solar panels on the roof. 

Growing and upskilling our workforce

10.    As our transport system becomes increasingly inter-connected and digitalised, it will need to be supported by a skilled workforce that is able to rise to the challenge. 

11.    Our workers - those who are already in the industry - will need to upgrade their skills. LTA has collaborated with SBST, SMRT and Institutes of Higher Learning such as the Singapore Institute of Technology, to introduce numerous training programmes for this purpose. These programmes are aligned to the Skills Framework for Public Transport launched in 2018.  At the workforce level, we can support such upskilling by promoting professional progression and establishing common industry standards. In this regard, LTA is working with IES and our PTOs to operationalise IES’ Chartership scheme, including the Chartered Engineering Technician and Chartered Engineering Technologist for bus and rail.  

12.    We also need to build a strong local workforce for system resilience and long-term sustainability. Over the next decade, with heavy asset renewal works on our existing lines, and new lines being built at an unprecedented rate, it is critical that we anchor core and strategic capabilities in Singapore.  We are doing this in two ways: 

a.     First, by attracting key rail OEMs to establish a long-term presence locally to facilitate transfer of knowledge. Some have already done so; Alstom and Thales have set up engineering offices here, while SMRT has signed long-term service support contracts with Alstom spanning 10 or more years. We will encourage more OEMs to do the same. 

b.     Second, by continuing to build a talent pipeline. Fresh graduates and technical experts joining us can look forward to more opportunities for hands-on training and deep technical work such as systems upgrading.

13.    Beyond deepening core technical expertise, we are also focusing on developing skillsets in data analytics, robotics and automation applications to support emerging needs. This is why IES signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AI Singapore last year to develop AI talent and encourage the creation and adoption of AI solutions in our engineering sector.

14.    As a sector, we have also begun to embrace technology to improve productivity and outcomes. For example, LTA’s engineers, consultants, and contractors can access up-to-date information on construction through a common digital platform. LTA and contractors can also leverage Virtual Reality technology and Building Information Modelling tools to design and construct the project digitally before actual construction onsite. Onsite inspections, we have long moved beyond relying solely on manual checks. Today, drones, LiDAR scanner and 360-degree video cameras can be used to track, monitor and accurately provide site updates.

15.    I hope the engineering community will continue to co-innovate with LTA to solve real-world problems and jointly bring about tangible and sustainable changes in our community. 

Collaboration for Joint Development of our Public Transport System

16.    What we have seen in our rail reliability journey, and more recently in our collaborative and innovative efforts, is the importance of exchange of knowledge and ideas between industry stakeholders to develop innovative solutions. So, we need both public-private partnerships but also private-private partnerships.  

17.    Platforms such as today’s World Engineers Summit 2021 are important in that regard, where they bring together inter-disciplinary teams within and outside the engineering community to develop holistic solutions. This supplements IES’ regular initiatives such as lectures and webinars and partnering industry for training and development.

18.    Today, I am also pleased to launch the Transportation Standards Committee, the three Technical References on Railway Systems and the Transport Resource Manual. The new Transportation Standards Committee will synergise various standardisation works in the transportation industry, while the new standards will provide our rail operators, engineers and technicians with best practices to enhance the reliability, safety and productivity of our railway. 

19.    By bringing together the public and private sectors through this initiative, we benefit from a breadth of perspectives and cross-pollination of ideas, develop deeper understanding of our transport network and its interdependencies, and build stronger competencies in our people. This will bring about tangible benefits to our railway transportation system in Singapore and ultimately benefit all Singaporeans. 

20.    I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the recipients of the IES Honorary Fellows, IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards and IES-Yayasan Mendaki Scholarships. Thank you for your contributions to the field of engineering in Singapore. To our new scholars, I wish you all the best as you set forth on an exciting journey in this field.

Conclusion 

21.    To conclude, while our operating environment has changed considerably - posing significant challenges - we remain united in our vision to collaborate closely, to solve the pressing challenges of tomorrow. In this regard, I look forward to our continued partnership between the public and private sector, amongst the private sector and with our partners internationally so that we can build a more reliable, resilient and future-ready transport system for all Singaporeans.

22.    Thank you.