9/27/2016

AirQualityandTargets

AirQualityandTargets
AirPollution

AirQualityinSingapore
Likemanyothermajorcities,airemissionsfromtheindustriesandmotorvehiclesarethetwokeysourcesofair
pollutiondomestically.Transboundarysmokehazefromthelandandforestfiresintheregionarealsoproblems
whichaffectSingaporesairqualityintermittentlyduringtheSouthWestMonsoonperiodfromAugusttoOctober.
Integratedurbanandindustrialplanning,aswellasdevelopmentcontrol,hasenabledthegovernmenttoputin
placepreventiveairpollutioncontrolmeasuresduringtheplanningstage.Inaddition,legislation,strict
enforcementprogrammesandairqualitymonitoringhavehelpedtoensurethatairqualityremainsgooddespite
ourdenseurbandevelopmentandlargeindustrialbase.
Assuch,SingaporeenjoysanairqualitybetterthanmanycitiesinAsiaandiscomparablewiththeairqualityof
USandEuropeancities.Wehavealsobeenfaringwell,withthePSIintheGoodand'Moderate'range97%of
thetimein2014.
Singapore'sairqualitytargets,sulphurdioxideemissioninventory,industrialandvehicleemissionstandardsare
detailedbelow.

AirQualityTargets
AsinternationalairqualitybenchmarksliketheWorldHealthOrganisationAirQualityGuidelines(WHOAQGs)
arebeingconstantlyreviewed,NEAformedtheAdvisoryCommitteeonAmbientAirqualityinJuly2010toadvise
onasetofairqualitytargetsforSingaporetosafeguardpublichealth.ThecommitteewaschairedbytheNEA
withrepresentativesfromvariousstakeholdersinthepublicsectorandinstitutionsofhighereducation*.
ThecommitteecompleteditsworkinJuly2011anditsrecommendationswerebasedontheassessmentthatthe
WHOAQGsareinternationallyrecognisedandrigorousastheyarebackedbyscientificfindingsandhealth
studies.ThecommitteealsoadvisedthatNEAworktowardsachievingtheWHOAQGsforallairpollutantsinthe
longterm.TheexecutivesummaryoftherecommendationsbytheAdvisoryCommitteeonAmbientAirQualityis
attached.
Executivesummary(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollution/executivesummary.pdf)
*Fulllistofrepresentatives:MinistryofHealth,MinistryofTradeandIndustry,EconomicDevelopmentBoard,
EnergyMarketAuthority,MinistryofManpower,MinistryofCommunityDevelopment,YouthandSports,
SingaporeEnvironmentCouncil,SingaporeTourismBoard,NationalUniversityofSingapore,Nanyang
TechnologicalUniversity,NationalHealthGroupandtheSingaporeHealthServices.
MEWR,togetherwithNEA,reviewedtherecommendationsoftheAdvisoryCommitteeandtheSustainable
SingaporeBlueprint(SSB)commitmentslaunchedin2009toachieveanannualmeanof15g/m3ofSO2and
12g/m3ofPM2.5by2020andhasworkedwithrelevantgovernmentagenciesandvariousstakeholderstoarrive
atasetofrevisednationalairqualitytargetspeggedtotheWHOAQGs.ThetargetsareinAnnexI.
Toworktowardsattainingtheairqualitytargetsby2020,NEAhasputtogetheraroadmapwithasetof
abatementmeasurestoachievesustainablegrowthanddevelopmentwhilemaintainingpublichealthand
economiccompetitiveness.TheabatementmeasuresaresummarisedinAnnexII.

AnnexI:SingaporeAmbientAirQualityTargets
Pollutant

SulphurDioxide(SO2)

SingaporeTargetsby2020
24hourmean:50g/m3
(WHOInterimTarget)
Annualmean:15g/m
(SustainableSingaporeBlueprinttarget)
3

http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection

LongTermTargets
24hourmean:20g/m3
(WHOFinal)

1/5

9/27/2016

AirQualityandTargets

Annualmean:10g/m3
ParticulateMatter
(PM2.5)

Annualmean:12g/m3
(SustainableSingaporeBlueprinttarget)[1]
24hourmean:37.5g/m3
(WHOInterimTarget)

ParticulateMatter
(PM10)

Annualmean:20g/m3
24hourmean:50g/m3
(WHOFinal)

Ozone

8hourmean:100g/m3
(WHOFinal)

NitrogenDioxide(NO2)

Annualmean:40g/m3
1hourmean:200g/m3
(WHOFinal)

CarbonMonoxide
(CO)

8hourmean:10mg/m3
1hourmean:30mg/m3
(WHOFinal)

24hourmean:25g/m3(WHO
Final)

[1]SustainableSingaporeBlueprintannualtargetforPM2.5of12g/m3willberetainedandalignedwithWHO
InterimTargetof37.5g/m3for24hourmean

AnnexII:SummaryofAbatementMeasures
Pollutant

Measures
WitheffectfromJuly2013,NEAmandatedthesupplyofNearSulphurFreeDiesel(NSFD)
withasulphurcontentof0.001%topavethewayforEuroVemissionstandardsfordiesel
vehiclesandfurtherreduceSO2emissionsfromdieselvehiclesandindustries.

Sulphur
Dioxide
(SO2)

Witheffectfrom1October2013,NEAwillmandatecleanerpetrolformotorvehicleswith
sulphurcontentlowerthan0.005%topavethewayfortheEuroIVemissionstandards.This
willalsoreduceHCandNOxwhichwillgiverisetoozone.
NEA,togetherwithEDB,willworkwithrefineriestoimprovetheirprocessesanddecrease
theirSO2emissions.Powerstationsarealsoworkingtowardsusingcleanerfuelsfortheir
energyneedsinordertolowertheirSO2emissions.Asthepowerstationsandindustries
switchtotheuseofcleanerfuelstoreduceSO2,therewillalsobeasimultaneousreduction
inotherpollutantsincludingPM2.5.
WitheffectfromJuly2013,NSFDwithsulphurcontentlessthan0.001%sulphuris
mandatoryformotorvehiclesandindustries.

Particulate
Matter
(PM2.5+PM10)

Witheffectfrom1January2014,emissionsstandardshavebeentightenedtoEuroV
emissionstandards.TheparticulateemissionsofEuroVdieselpassengercarsare
significantlylowerthanthatofEuroIVdieselcars.
EarlyTurnoverSchemetoincentiviseownersofPreEuroandEuroIdieselcommercial
vehiclestoretiretheirvehiclesandupgradetoEuroVcompliantvehicles.
Witheffectfrom1January2014,allinusedieseldrivenvehiclesarerequiredtoachievea
smokeopacityreadingof40HartridgeSmokeUnits(from50HartridgeSmokeUnits)or
belowduringvehicleinspection.
From1April2014,newpetrolvehicleswillhavetocomplywithEuroIVemissionstandards.

Ozone[2]

EmissionsstandardsformotorcyclesandscooterswillberevisedtoEuroIIIstandardsfrom
1October2014.

[2]Ozoneisnotdirectlyemittedbutisformedthroughcomplexchemicalreactionsinvolvinghydrocarbons(HC)
andnitricoxide&nitrogendioxide(NOx)inthepresenceofsunlight.HCandNOxemittedfrommotorvehicles,
industries,powerstationsandrefineriesaretheprecursorsforozoneformation.
SulphurDioxide(SO2)EmissionInventory

Sulphurdioxide(SO2)isoneofthesixpollutantsthatwetrackandmonitorcloselyinSingapore,withtheothers
beingparticulatematter(PM10),fineparticulatematter(PM2.5),nitrogendioxide,carbonmonoxideandozone.
SourcesofSO2emissionsinSingaporeincludeindustriessuchasrefineriesandpowerstations,aswellasmotor
vehicles.

The2015SO emissioninventory,developedbasedonextensiveemissionsdatacollectedfromvarioussources,
http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection

2/5

9/27/2016

AirQualityandTargets

The2015SO2emissioninventory,developedbasedonextensiveemissionsdatacollectedfromvarioussources,
isshowninthetablebelow.WhilethecompaniesoperatewithinpermissiblelimitsandformpartoftheChemical
Cluster(comprisingpetroleum,petrochemicalsandspecialtychemicalssectorswhichcontributetomorethana
thirdofthetotalmanufacturingoutputinSingapore),itisimportanttocontinuestrivingforimprovedemission
targets.Theindustriesarealsoworkingtowardsloweremissionlevelsaspartoftheoverallgoalofachieving
betterairqualityforSingaporeoverthelongterm.
Sources

Refineries

Power
Stations

Other
Industries

Motor
Vehicles

Emitters

SO2Emissions
(tonnes)

Shell

27,701

SingaporeRefiningCompany

22,996

ExxonMobil

23,904

PowerSeraya

66

Tuaspower

SenokoPower

TPUtilities(BMCC)

1,273

SembcorpIndustries

ExxonMobilPetrochemical

2,129

LindeSyngas

491

MitsuiPhenol

12

PetrochemicalCorporationof
Singapore

91

EvonikMethionine

148

OtherFuelOilUsers

1,180

DieselUsers

10

PetrolVehicles

79

DieselVehicles

31

Total

80,111

ContributionofSO2
Emissions
93.1%

1.7%

5.1%

0.1%
100%

IndustrialEmissions
TheNEAsSourceEmissionTestSchemeforindustriesrequiresindustriestoconductsourceemissiontestson
theirownorengageaccreditedconsultants(/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollutioncontrol/accredited
testingbodiesforsourceemissiontests)todosoontheirbehalf.Thisallowsindustriestomonitortheirair
emissionsregularlyandtotakemeasurestoensurecompliancewiththeprescribedairemissionstandards.

MotorVehicles
Motorvehiclesareamajorsourceofairpollution.Tocontroltheemissionsgeneratedbymotorvehicles,NEA
regulatesthetypeandqualityoffuelthatcanbeusedinSingapore,andalsosetsminimumexhaustemission
standardsforallvehicles.
SmokyVehicles

NEAtakesstringentenforcementactionsagainstsmokyvehiclesontheroads.UndertheEnvironmental
ProtectionandManagement(VehicularEmissions)Regulations
(http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3ppage=0query=Status%3Acurinforce%20Type%3Aact,sl%20Content%3A%22diese
isanoffenceforanyvehicletoemitvisiblesmokewhileinuseontheroad.Therationaleistominimisepollution
totheenvironmentandsafeguardpublichealthasthevisiblesmokecontainsfineparticulatematter.Ownersof
smokyvehiclescanbefineduptoamaximumof$2,000forthefirstoffenceand$5,000forsubsequent
offences.Currently,inusedieselvehiclesarerequiredtoundergoandpasstheChassisDynamometerSmoke
Test(CDST)duringtheperiodicvehicleinspectionconductedattheauthorisedvehicleinspectioncentres.Since
http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection

3/5

9/27/2016

AirQualityandTargets

1January2014,topasstheCDST,thesmokeopacitylimithasbeentightenedfrom50HSUto40HSU.Diesel
vehiclesthataremaintainedandservicedproperlywillnothavedifficultypassingthestricterCDSTlimit.Owners
ofvehiclesthatdonotpassormarginallypasstheCDSTwillbeinformedbytheinspectioncentrestosendtheir
vehiclesforimmediateservicing/repair.
Itistheresponsibilityofeveryownerofavehicletoensurethatthevehicleisingoodconditionbeforeusingiton
theroad.Besidesregularservicingandvehicularmaintenance,thedrivershouldavoidoverloadingthevehicleor
draggingtheenginewhiledriving.For2strokemotorcycles,thecauseofsmokeemissionisusuallydueto
incorrectdosageoflubricatingoiloracloggedexhaustsystem.
IdlingEngines
UndertheEnvironmentalProtectionandManagement(VehicularEmissions)Regulations
(http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollution/environmental
protectionandmanagement(vehicularemissions)regulations.pdf?sfvrsn=0),itisanoffenceforthedriverofa
motorvehicletoleavetheengineofthevehicleidlingwhenthevehicleisstationaryforreasonsotherthantraffic
conditions,exceptwhentheengineisneededtooperateonboardequipmentsuchasinthecaseofambulances,
fireengines,freezertrucksandconcretemixertrucks.Therationaleistominimisepollutiontotheenvironment
andsafeguardpublichealth.Turningtheengineoffwhenthevehicleisstationarywillalsosavefuel.Underthe
regulations,thedriverisliabletobefinedupto$2,000forthefirstoffence.Forsecondandsubsequentoffences,
thedriverisliabletoafinenotexceeding$5,000.
AspartofNEAsoutreacheffortstoraisepublicawareness,NEAregularlyengagesstakeholderssuchasthe
SingaporeSchool&PrivateHireBusOwnersAssociation,theSingaporeSchoolTransportAssociation,the
PublicTransportOperators(Bus/TaxiOperators)andtheNationalAssociationofTravelAgentsSingapore
(NATAS)todisseminateeducationalmessagesandpamphletstotheirdrivers.NEAhasalsoworkedwithschools
todistributeeducationalmaterialssuchaspostersandpamphletstoeducateandremindparentsaswellas
privateschooltransportoperatorstoswitchofftheirvehicleengineswhilewaitingtopickuptheschoolchildren.
Inaddition,NEAworkscloselywiththeauthorisedvehicleinspectioncentres(VICOM,JICInspectionServices
andSTAInspection)todistributeeducationalpamphletsandcardecalsduringtheperiodicvehicleinspectionsin
ordertoremindmotoriststhatitisanoffencetoleavetheengineofthevehicleidlingwhilestationary.
Ifyouspotvehicleswithidlingenginesorsmokyemissions,youareencouragedtoreportthemtoNEAviathe
followingplatformswithdetailsofthevehicleregistrationnumber,location,dateandtimeoftheincident.

NEAhotline:1800CALLNEA(18002255632)
Feedback:OnlineFeedbackForm(/corporatefunctions/feedback)
MyENVMobileApp:iPhone(https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/myenv/id444435182?mt=8)/Android
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.gov.nea)
Downloadbrochuresformoredetails:
Brochureforsmokyvehicle(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/pcdsmokey
vehicles/smokyvehiclebrochure.pdf)
Brochureforidlingengines((/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/air
pollution/nea_a4pamphlet__detailedinfo.pdf)brochurecover(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiation
protection/pcdsmokeyvehicles/brochurecover.pdf)andinnerpages(/docs/defaultsource/antipollution
radiationprotection/pcdsmokeyvehicles/nea_a4pamphlet__detailedinfo.pdf))
Forfurtherdetailsontheregulationsgoverningmotorvehicleoperation,importationandlicensing,clickhere
(http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollutioncontrol/airpollutionregulations).

OffRoadDieselEngines

Witheffectfrom1July2012,alloffroaddieselenginestobeimportedforuseinSingaporearetocomplywith
theEUStageII,USTierIIorJapanTierI(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollution/eu
stageiiustieriiorjapantieri.pdf)offroaddieselengineemissionstandards.Offroaddieselenginesareany
equipmentormachinerywithdieselenginesasthemainorauxiliaryprimemoverandnotregisteredwiththe
LandTransportAuthority(LTA)foruseonpublicroads.Examplesincludeconstructionequipmentsuchas
http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection

4/5

9/27/2016

AirQualityandTargets

LandTransportAuthority(LTA)foruseonpublicroads.Examplesincludeconstructionequipmentsuchas
Singapore
cranes,excavators,forkliftsandpowergenerators.Dieselenginesusedinships,railways,locomotivesand
NetPower(kW)
(MandatoryStandard)
aircraftdonotfallunderthisregulation.
Allnewlyimportedoffroaddieselenginesasof1July2012,bothnewandused,intendedforuseinSingapore
mustcomplywiththestipulatedemissionstandards.Thisregulationincludesthosewithenginepowerabove
560kW.Standbygeneratorsabove560kWimportedforuseinSingaporearegivenagraceperiodofupto31
Dec2013tocomplywiththestipulatedemissionstandards.
Duringthegraceperiod,allstandbygeneratorsabove560kWshallcomplywiththeUSTierIemissionstandards
andcompaniesarerequiredtowriteintoNEAwiththeirrequest.Theengineoroffroaddieselequipmentcanbe
senttoanoverseasorSingaporeaccreditedlaboratory(http://cms.nea.gov.sg/docs/defaultsource/antipollution
radiationprotection/airpollution/accreditedlaboratory.pdf?sfvrsn=10)foranemissionstestaccordingtotheISO
8178standards.
NetPower(kW)

Singapore
(MandatoryStandard)

>560

USTierII

130<P<560

USTierIIorEUStageIIorJapanTierI

75<P<130

USTierIIorEUStageIIorJapanTierI

37<P<75

USTierIIorEUStageIIorJapanTierI

19<P<37

USTierIIorEUStageIIorJapanTierI

<19

USTierIIorJapanTierI

Fornewoffroaddieselengines,NEAacceptscommonemissionstestreportsforeachmakeandmodel.
Forusedoffroaddieselengine,NEArequiresanemissionstesttobeconductedoneachandeveryunitbeforeit
canbeallowedforuseinSingapore.
ItisanoffenceundertheEnvironmentalProtectionandManagement(OffRoadDieselEngineEmissions)
Regulations(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/airpollution/environmentalprotectionand
management(offroaddieselengineemissions)regulations.pdf)foranypersontouseoffroaddieselengines
importedintoSingaporeonorafter1July2012iftheydonotcomplywiththestipulatedemissionstandards.
Theapplicationformforapprovaltoimportanduseoffroaddieselengineswitheffectfrom1July2012canbe
downloadedfromthefollowingwebsite(/docs/defaultsource/antipollutionradiationprotection/air
pollution/website.doc)andemailedtoContact_NEA@nea.gov.sg(mailto:Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg).
PrivacyStatement(/privacypolicy/) TermsofUse(/termsofuse/) RatethisSite
LastUpdatedon18July2016
(https://www.jusfeedback.asia/Community/se.ashx?
s=7FDA9EA723A5704F&Agency=MEWR.NEA&Svc=NEA%20Corporate%20Website&eLnk=http://app2.nea.gov.sg/&Cat=Citizen)
NationalEnvironmentAgencyofSingaporeAllRightsReserved
2016,GovernmentofSingapore

http://www.nea.gov.sg/antipollutionradiationprotection

5/5