Singapore's National Environment Agency announced Thursday it will commission comprehensive nuclear safety studies, including standards for reactor design and operations, marking the city-state's most concrete step yet toward deploying atomic energy by the mid-2030s.
The studies, to be tendered in the coming months, will establish regulatory frameworks for nuclear facility siting, safety protocols, and emergency response procedures, according to The Straits Times. The move follows Singapore's announcement earlier this year that it would accelerate nuclear feasibility planning in response to regional energy security concerns.
Singapore imports approximately 95 percent of its energy, primarily natural gas piped from Indonesia and Malaysia or shipped as LNG from the Middle East and Australia. The current oil crisis has exposed the vulnerability of this import dependence, with electricity tariffs rising 23 percent this quarter despite government subsidies.
The nuclear push places Singapore at the forefront of ASEAN's energy transition, alongside Vietnam and Indonesia, both of which have revived dormant nuclear programs in recent months. Small modular reactors—compact, factory-built units that can be deployed in space-constrained environments—are the leading technology under consideration for the 733-square-kilometer island nation.
"We are committed to a diversified, low-carbon energy mix that ensures energy security while meeting our climate commitments," a Ministry of Trade and Industry spokesperson said. Singapore has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 but currently derives more than 95 percent of electricity from natural gas.
The nuclear studies will examine international best practices from , , and , countries that have successfully integrated nuclear power into dense urban environments. Public consultation is expected to begin in 2027, with site selection and regulatory approval processes extending into the early 2030s.
