Nuclear Energy

About Nuclear Energy

While Singapore has not made a decision on nuclear energy, we are building up capabilities that will allow us to assess the potential deployment of nuclear energy in Singapore in the longer term, with a focus on areas such as nuclear safety and security, technology assessment, and waste management.

A Pre-feasibility Study on Nuclear Energy concluded in 2012 that presently available nuclear energy technologies are not yet suitable for deployment in Singapore.

Newer nuclear power plant designs that are being developed and tested, such as the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), may have the potential to be safer than plants that are in operation today. Compared to conventional large nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMR) promise enhanced safety and economics. Most of these technologies are still undergoing research and development and have not begun commercial operation. Some countries have announced plans for demonstrating some of these technologies in the coming decade.

We will continue to monitor the progress of these advanced nuclear technologies to keep our energy options open for the future and build capabilities to assess their implications for Singapore. This includes leveraging the expertise of global leaders in nuclear science and safety, as well as tapping on consultancy studies to assess the viability of advanced nuclear technologies for Singapore. 

Singapore has also inked agreements with countries like the United States, France, United Arab Emirates and Sweden to build capabilities to assess the viability of nuclear energy in Singapore.

Since 2014, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI) has consolidated expertise and knowledge in nuclear technology, and Singapore has invested more than $150million thus far.  SNRSI was designated an Institute in July 2025. As an institute, SNRSI will partner international laboratories to develop expertise in reactor simulation and modelling to analyse the safety of reactor designs and build capabilities to assess their suitability for domestic deployment.

Any decision to deploy new energy technologies will need to be considered against the technology’s safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability in Singapore’s context. In addition, these technologies will need to comply with stringent standards in line with the best practices of countries which have experience in ensuring the safety of such technologies.