SINGAPORE, Oct 27 — Singapore is seriously studying the potential deployment of nuclear energy — particularly emerging technologies like small modular reactors — and today released a background paper outlining the government’s efforts in capability building to date.

Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan See Leng said Singapore has also formed dedicated nuclear energy teams within key agencies to lead these efforts and is actively collaborating with international partners.

“Nuclear energy has the potential to be a safe, reliable and cost-competitive option for Singapore.

“We understand that the public has many queries about our plans. We will engage the public regularly as we progress on this journey together,” he said during a lecture at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) today.

The 16-page paper, titled “Building Singapore’s Capabilities to Assess Nuclear Energy”, stated that Singapore has not made any decision on the deployment of nuclear energy.

“Any decision to deploy nuclear energy will take into account the safety, reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability of the technology in Singapore’s context,” it said, adding that the public will be engaged regularly on any developments.

It also said Singapore will continue its efforts to build up domestic capabilities, supported by international partners.

In 2012, the Singapore government conducted a pre-feasibility study on nuclear energy.

While the study concluded that nuclear power plants of the time were not suitable for a small and densely populated city-state like Singapore, it recommended that the country continue to monitor the progress of new nuclear energy technologies.

Meanwhile, Dr Tan said the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will sign new cooperation agreements with two United States (US) organisations — the Idaho National Laboratory and Battelle Memorial Institute—to further strengthen Singapore’s expertise in the area.

These cooperation agreements build on the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123 Agreement), signed in July 2024, and the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation, signed in January 2025 between Singapore and the US.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, in his Budget 2025 speech, had said that Singapore will study the potential deployment of nuclear energy in the republic and will take further steps to systematically build up its capabilities in this area. — Bernama