Singapore ‘seriously’ considering nuclear energy

Delivering his Budget 2025 speech in February this year, Singapore Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong said the government will study the potential deployment of nuclear power in Singapore and take further steps to systematically build up capabilities in this area.

"We will need new capabilities to evaluate options and to consider if there is a solution that Singapore can deploy in a safe and cost-effective way," he said.

In September, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) appointed UK-headquartered engineering firm Mott MacDonald to conduct a study on the safety and technical feasibility of advanced nuclear energy technologies.

The study will evaluate the safety performance and technical feasibility of advanced nuclear energy technologies such as small modular reactors, based on their safety features, technology maturity, and commercial readiness.

“These teams will focus solely on nuclear energy issues, and I hear they are hiring actively,” Tan said. Singapore is "also actively collaborating with international partners."

In October 2024, EMA signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE's Emirates Nuclear Energy Company to develop capabilities in nuclear energy.

Through the MoU, both parties will work together to strengthen capabilities in nuclear science and technology, and identify activities of mutual interest in areas such as the assessment of emerging nuclear technologies and human resource development. (www.world-nuclear-news.org)