Singapore appoints nuclear energy consultants ahead of watchdog review

Singapore has appointed a panel of consultants to support its preparations for the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) phase 1 mission in 2027 .

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said on Tuesday (Oct 27) that the Government is building capabilities across the 19 areas under the IAEA's milestones approach — a structured, internationally recognised framework to guide countries in understanding the commitments and obligations associated with developing a nuclear power programme.

The 19 areas include capabilities to manage nuclear safety, radioactive waste, and emergency planning.

"These efforts will strengthen Singapore’s ability to make an informed decision on nuclear energy," EMA said.

It added that the scope of the panel will span three categories which are, in turn, aligned with key areas identified under the milestones approach.

The first category covers technical and economic aspects, including nuclear safety, funding and financing, radiation protection, environmental protection, safeguards, site and supporting facilities, electrical grid, nuclear security, nuclear fuel cycle, radioactive waste management, and emergency planning.

The second category entails legal and regulatory frameworks for nuclear energy, while the third covers organisational aspects such as national position, industrial involvement, procurement, management systems, human resource development, and stakeholder involvement.

EMA chief executive Puah Kok Keong highlighted that developing the capabilities to rigorously assess the safety and suitability of nuclear energy is an important part of Singapore's efforts to strengthen its energy security.

The authority added that a second panel of technical advisers will be appointed to support nuclear energy capability building efforts by the end of 2026.

Separately, the National Environment Agency announced on Monday that it has appointed consultancy firms to undertake three studies to deepen Singapore’s capabilities in nuclear safety, regulation and environmental protection .

While Singapore has chosen to undertake IAEA's assessment, the decision to adopt and deploy nuclear energy has not been made yet.

There are also no plans to progress through the IAEA milestones approach until a decision to adopt nuclear energy is made, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 19, when he first announced that Singapore is undertaking the assessment.

"The purpose of the phase 1 review is to assess whether Singapore is ready to make an informed decision on nuclear energy deployment. The emphasis is on being ready to make an informed decision," PM Wong said.

The decision to deploy nuclear power will heavily depend on safety, which will always be the "overriding priority", he added, emphasising that there is "no margin for error".

新加坡已任命一个顾问小组，以支持其为国际原子能机构（IAEA）2027 年的综合核基础设施审查（INIR）第一阶段任务所做的准备工作。

能源市场管理局 (EMA) 周二（10 月 27 日）表示，政府正在国际原子能机构 (IAEA) 的里程碑方法下的 19 个领域建立能力——这是一个结构化的、国际公认的框架，旨在指导各国了解与发展核电计划相关的承诺和义务。

这 19 个领域包括核安全管理、放射性废物处理和应急计划制定能力。

“这些努力将增强新加坡在核能问题上做出明智决策的能力，”EMA表示。

声明还补充说，该小组的范围将涵盖三个类别，而这三个类别又与里程碑方法下确定的关键领域相一致。

第一类涵盖技术和经济方面，包括核安全、资金和融资、辐射防护、环境保护、保障措施、场地和配套设施、电网、核安保、核燃料循环、放射性废物管理和应急计划。

第二类涉及核能的法律和监管框架，而第三类涵盖组织方面，例如国家地位、工业参与、采购、管理体系、人力资源开发和利益相关者参与。

EMA首席执行官蒲国强强调，培养严格评估核能安全性和适用性的能力，是新加坡加强能源安全工作的重要组成部分。

该机构补充说，到 2026 年底，将任命第二批技术顾问小组，以支持核能能力建设工作。

另外，国家环境局周一宣布，已委任咨询公司开展三项研究，以加深新加坡在核安全、监管和环境保护方面的能力。

虽然新加坡已选择接受国际原子能机构的评估，但尚未决定采用和部署核能。

5月19日，新加坡总理黄循财首次宣布新加坡将进行核能评估时表示，在决定采用核能之前，新加坡没有计划按照国际原子能机构的里程碑方法推进核能发展。

黄循财总理表示：“第一阶段审查的目的是评估新加坡是否已做好准备，就核能部署做出明智的决定。重点在于做好做出明智决定的准备。”

他补充说，部署核电的决定将很大程度上取决于安全，安全始终是“首要任务”，并强调“没有犯错的余地”。