Kenneth Lim

Kenneth Lim

FREELANCER

Kenneth Lim is a deputy news editor at BT who oversees coverage of environmental, social and governance issues. Over his career, he has covered Singapore public capital markets and regulations, South-east Asian private capital markets and US debt markets, as well as non-journalism work related to sustainable finance.

Harita Nickel’s emissions have been increasing since 2022 while its share of renewable power has been falling.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 184: OCBC hit by coal complaint; Parkway Life Reit secures green, social debt

This week in ESG: Bank under fire for loans to Harita Nickel; healthcare-focused Reit adds S$142 million of sustainable financing

Major Singapore-listed renewable plays performed unevenly in 2025 against the market benchmark.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 183: Amova eyes Singapore-listed renewables; new sparks for Malaysian solar

This week in ESG: Fund manager sees structural opportunities for renewables; Solarvest to more than double solar capacity

Coal-fired plants are among the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gases.
NEWS ANALYSIS

Eastspring, Reviva to launch coal phase-out strategy

There are many challenges to overcome, and a fundamental one is building stakeholders’ consensus about priorities

Generic photo for stories related to COE, carbon emission,ERP, carbon emissions-based vehicle scheme (CEVS), carbon tax.
SINGAPORE BUDGET 2026

Carbon tax calibration undertaken to protect business competitiveness

The Singapore government’s cautious signal is a recognition that most of the rest of the world is putting the brakes on decarbonisation...

The problematic Just Energy Transition Partnership’s financing packages are far short of what is needed, researchers say.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 182: Private equity targets coal; Singapore’s carbon tax realism

This week in ESG: Eastspring, Reviva launch coal phase-out strategy; Singapore Budget 2026 signals caution on carbon tax

Both Singtel and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres have been reducing greenhouse gas emissions since 2022.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 181: Singtel acquires greener data centres; carbon tax in focus for Singapore Budget 2026

This week in ESG: ST Telemedia Global Data Centres may improve Singtel’s emissions profile; businesses call for relief from carbon tariff

Sembcorp will miss its 2028 emissions intensity targets if it acquires Alinta.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 180: Sembcorp shareholders vote on Alinta deal; new directorship institute launches

This week in ESG: Sembcorp acquisition’s coal exposure raises questions; GDInstitute offers alternative to Singapore Institute of Directors

Coal consumption growth in South-east Asia will lead the world until 2030, says the International Energy Agency.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 176: Indonesia’s U-turn on coal phase-out; climate scenarios caught in paper retraction

This week in ESG: Cancellation of coal plant’s early retirement jeopardises multilateral programme; Retracted study used to model climate damage by central...

As at end-2024, 68% of Sembcorp’s total energy portfolio came from installed, secured or under-construction renewable capacity.
HOCK LOCK SIEW

Sembcorp’s purchase of Australia's Alinta Energy has green risks

Post-acquisition, the Australian utility may present significant capital expenditures or a slower-than-expected green transition

Alinta’s indirect emissions exceed Sembcorp’s mostly due to contracted power purchased from a coal plant.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 175: Sembcorp courts still-brown Alinta; Asia can’t let coal go

This week in ESG: Sembcorp to buy Australian utility A$6.5 billion; coal phase-out fizzling out in Asia