diff --git a/cgatcore/pipeline/execution.py b/cgatcore/pipeline/execution.py
index 9e0e393e..7679f252 100644
--- a/cgatcore/pipeline/execution.py
+++ b/cgatcore/pipeline/execution.py
@@ -788,16 +788,17 @@ def cleanup_failed_job(self, job_info):
             else:
                 self.logger.info(f"Output file not found (already removed or not created): {outfile}")
 
-    def run(self, statement_list, job_memory=None, job_threads=None, image=None, volumes=None, env_vars=None, **kwargs):
+    def run(self, statement_list, job_memory=None, job_threads=None, container_runtime=None, image=None, volumes=None, env_vars=None, **kwargs):
         """
-        Execute a list of statements with optional container support.
+        Execute a list of statements with optional container support for Docker or Singularity.
 
         Args:
             statement_list (list): List of commands to execute.
             job_memory (str): Memory requirements (e.g., "4G").
             job_threads (int): Number of threads to use.
-            image (str): Container image to use (e.g., "ubuntu:20.04").
-            volumes (list): List of volume mappings (e.g., ["/data:/data"]).
+            container_runtime (str): Container runtime to use ("docker" or "singularity").
+            image (str): Container image to use (e.g., "ubuntu:20.04" or a Singularity SIF path).
+            volumes (list): List of volume mappings (e.g., ['/data:/data'] for Docker or ['/data:/data'] for Singularity).
             env_vars (dict): Environment variables for the container.
             **kwargs: Additional arguments passed to the executor.
 
@@ -805,23 +806,16 @@ def run(self, statement_list, job_memory=None, job_threads=None, image=None, vol
             list: Benchmark data collected from executed jobs.
         """
         # Validation checks
-        if image:
-            # If image is specified, validate related arguments
-            if not isinstance(image, str) or not image.strip():
-                raise ValueError("A valid container image must be specified when 'image' is provided.")
-
-            if volumes and not isinstance(volumes, list):
-                raise ValueError("Volumes must be a list of volume mappings (e.g., ['/data:/data']).")
-
-            if env_vars and not isinstance(env_vars, dict):
-                raise ValueError("Environment variables must be provided as a dictionary (e.g., {'VAR': 'value'}).")
+        if container_runtime:
+            if container_runtime not in ["docker", "singularity"]:
+                raise ValueError("Container runtime must be 'docker' or 'singularity'.")
+            if not image:
+                raise ValueError("An image must be specified when using a container runtime.")
 
         else:
-            # If no image is specified, disallow container-specific arguments
-            if volumes:
-                raise ValueError("Volume mappings cannot be provided without specifying a container image.")
-            if env_vars:
-                raise ValueError("Environment variables cannot be provided without specifying a container image.")
+            # If no container runtime is specified, disallow container-specific arguments
+            if volumes or env_vars or image:
+                raise ValueError("Container-specific arguments (volumes, env_vars, or image) require a container runtime.")
 
         benchmark_data = []
         for statement in statement_list:
@@ -829,35 +823,53 @@ def run(self, statement_list, job_memory=None, job_threads=None, image=None, vol
             self.start_job(job_info)  # Track the job lifecycle
 
             try:
-                # Prepare for containerised execution if an image is specified
-                if image:
+                # Prepare for containerised execution if a container runtime is specified
+                if container_runtime:
                     volume_args = []
                     if volumes:
-                        for volume in volumes:
-                            volume_args.extend(["-v", volume])
+                        if container_runtime == "docker":
+                            for volume in volumes:
+                                volume_args.extend(["-v", volume])
+                        elif container_runtime == "singularity":
+                            for volume in volumes:
+                                volume_args.extend(["--bind", volume])
 
                     env_args = []
                     if env_vars:
                         for key, value in env_vars.items():
-                            env_args.extend(["-e", f"{key}={value}"])
+                            if container_runtime == "docker":
+                                env_args.extend(["-e", f"{key}={value}"])
+                            elif container_runtime == "singularity":
+                                env_args.extend(["--env", f"{key}={value}"])
 
                     # Add standard environment variables
                     if job_memory:
-                        env_args.extend(["-e", f"JOB_MEMORY={job_memory}"])
+                        env_args.append(f"--env JOB_MEMORY={job_memory}" if container_runtime == "singularity" else "-e JOB_MEMORY={job_memory}")
                     if job_threads:
-                        env_args.extend(["-e", f"JOB_THREADS={job_threads}"])
-
-                    # Construct the Docker run command
-                    docker_command = [
-                        "docker", "run", "--rm",
-                        *volume_args,
-                        *env_args,
-                        image,
-                        "/bin/bash", "-c",
-                        f"'{statement}'"  # Wrap statement in quotes for proper execution
-                    ]
+                        env_args.append(f"--env JOB_THREADS={job_threads}" if container_runtime == "singularity" else "-e JOB_THREADS={job_threads}")
+
+                    # Construct the container command
+                    if container_runtime == "docker":
+                        container_command = [
+                            "docker", "run", "--rm",
+                            *volume_args,
+                            *env_args,
+                            image,
+                            "/bin/bash", "-c",
+                            f"'{statement}'"  # Wrap statement in quotes for proper execution
+                        ]
+                    elif container_runtime == "singularity":
+                        container_command = [
+                            "singularity", "exec",
+                            *volume_args,
+                            *env_args,
+                            image,
+                            "/bin/bash", "-c",
+                            f"'{statement}'"  # Wrap statement in quotes for proper execution
+                        ]
+
                     # Replace the original statement with the containerised version
-                    statement = " ".join(docker_command)
+                    statement = " ".join(container_command)
 
                 # Execute the statement (containerised or not)
                 full_statement, job_path = self.build_job_script(statement)