Singapore committed to cooperation in nuclear safety, security and safeguards: Grace Fu

Nuclear safety is a shared international responsibility given the potential transnational consequences of any nuclear incident, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Monday (Sept 14).

It is against this backdrop that Singapore's commitment to nuclear safety, security and safeguards, alongside regional cooperation and partnerships, remains unchanged, she stated.

The minister, who is on a three-day working visit to Austria's Vienna till Sept 15, was delivering Singapore's national statement at the 70th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference.

Turning to Singapore's energy resilience goals, Fu reiterated that even as the Republic looks at possible pathways, including whether nuclear energy should be a viable option, its approach will be "deliberate, structured and rigorous".

"Our assessment will consider nuclear safety, security and safeguards, environmental sustainability, economic viability, public confidence, and our international obligations," she said.

The minister added that before Singapore makes any decision, it must have the scientific, technical, institutional, and regulatory capabilities to evaluate reactor technologies objectively.

To this, Fu said that Singapore is building up these capabilities across government, research institutions, and its regulatory system.

It is also strengthening cooperation with nuclear regulators, and international partners to learn from their approaches to governance, regulation, and safety.

On May 19, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will be evaluating its ability to potentially deploy nuclear energy through the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR).

The assessment is part of 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 milestones approach comprehensively assesses 19 areas, such as capabilities to manage nuclear safety, radioactive waste, and emergency planning.

Fu said that the IAEA is a key partner in this journey, allowing the country to benchmark its capabilities against the milestones approach, assess its readiness to make an informed decision on nuclear energy deployment, and identify areas for further development.

"The INIR Mission is not a commitment to adopt nuclear energy. But it is a way to help determine whether Singapore has the expertise, institutions and frameworks to make an informed decision," she stated.

Cooperation and partnerships

Turning to cooperation, the sustainability and the environment minister pointed out that regional cooperation will become more important as interest in nuclear energy and other applications grows across Southeast Asia.

She said that Singapore will continue working with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) neighbours and the IAEA to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, operationalise regional protocols, expand radiation monitoring networks and information sharing arrangements, and conduct exercises to ensure readiness.

"These efforts build confidence, improve coordination, and strengthen the region’s ability to respond to a nuclear or radiological emergency," Fu added.

She also touched on Singapore's Asean chairmanship in 2027, saying that the Republic with "work constructively" with Asean member states and the IAEA to strengthen regional and international cooperation.

This, the minister said, will step countries towards the shared goal of safe, secure, and peaceful uses of nuclear technology for the benefit of all.

On Middle East and Ukraine

Fu also touch on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, expressing Singapore's grave concerns over their impact on nuclear safety and security.

She noted that any attack on operating nuclear power plants will pose significant and undeniable risks to nuclear safety.

"We urge all parties to respect the Seven Indispensable Pillars and refrain from actions that could compromise nuclear safety and security of nuclear energy facilities devoted to peaceful purposes."

To this end, Fu highlighted the IAEA's "central and independent role" in supporting the global nuclear non-proliferation regime through its verification and monitoring of safeguards implementation.

She said that the agency must be in a position to provide assurances of the peaceful nature of a state's nuclear programme, adding that unresolved issues surrounding Iran's compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations present concerns.

In addition, any nuclear material unaccounted for presents a proliferation risk, Fu added.

On North Korea's unconstrained development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, the minister said that this presents "considerable risks" to regional and global peace, security and stability.

At the conference, Fu also announced that Singapore has again pledged its full technical cooperation fund target for 2027.

According to a IAEA report published in 2024, Singapore's target share is €465,000 (S$683,000).

永续及环境部长傅海燕周一（9月14日）表示，鉴于任何核事故都可能造成跨国后果，核安全是国际社会的共同责任。

她表示，正是在这种背景下，新加坡对核安全、安保和保障的承诺，以及对区域合作与伙伴关系的承诺，仍然保持不变。

这位部长正在奥地利维也纳进行为期三天的工作访问，访问将持续到9月15日。他在第70届国际原子能机构（IAEA）大会上发表了新加坡的国家声明。

谈到新加坡的能源韧性目标，傅先生重申，即使新加坡正在考虑各种可能的途径，包括核能是否应该成为一个可行的选择，其方法也将是“深思熟虑、有条理和严谨的”。

“我们的评估将考虑核安全、安保和保障措施、环境可持续性、经济可行性、公众信任以及我们的国际义务，”她说。

部长补充说，新加坡在做出任何决定之前，必须具备科学、技术、制度和监管能力，才能客观地评估反应堆技术。

对此，傅先生表示，新加坡正在政府、研究机构和监管体系中建立这些能力。

它还在加强与核监管机构和国际伙伴的合作，以学习他们在治理、监管和安全方面的做法。

5月19日，总理黄循财宣布，新加坡将通过综合核基础设施审查（INIR）评估其部署核能的潜在能力。

该评估是国际原子能机构里程碑方法的一部分——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。

里程碑方法全面评估了 19 个领域，例如核安全管理能力、放射性废物管理能力和应急计划能力。

傅先生表示，国际原子能机构是这一进程中的关键合作伙伴，使中国能够根据里程碑方法对标自身能力，评估其在核能部署方面做出明智决策的准备情况，并确定需要进一步发展的领域。

她表示：“INIR考察团并非承诺采用核能，而是为了帮助确定新加坡是否具备做出明智决策所需的专业知识、机构和框架。”

合作与伙伴关系

谈到合作，可持续发展和环境部长指出，随着东南亚地区对核能和其他应用领域的兴趣日益浓厚，区域合作将变得更加重要。

她表示，新加坡将继续与东盟邻国和国际原子能机构合作，加强应急准备和响应，落实区域协议，扩大辐射监测网络和信息共享安排，并开展演习以确保做好准备。

傅先生补充说：“这些努力有助于建立信心，改善协调，并增强该地区应对核或放射性紧急情况的能力。”

她还谈到了新加坡在 2027 年担任东盟轮值主席国一事，表示新加坡将与东盟成员国和国际原子能机构“开展建设性合作”，以加强区域和国际合作。

部长表示，这将使各国朝着安全、可靠、和平利用核技术的共同目标迈进，造福所有人。

关于中东和乌克兰

傅先生还谈到了中东和乌克兰的持续冲突，表达了新加坡对这些冲突对核安全造成的影响的严重关切。

她指出，任何对运行中的核电站的攻击都将对核安全构成重大且不容否认的风险。

“我们敦促各方尊重七项不可或缺的支柱，并避免采取任何可能损害用于和平目的的核能设施的核安全和安保的行动。”

为此，傅强调了国际原子能机构通过核查和监测保障措施的执行情况，在支持全球核不扩散机制方面发挥的“核心和独立作用”。

她表示，该机构必须能够保证一个国家核计划的和平性质，并补充说，伊朗在遵守其具有法律约束力的保障监督义务方面存在未解决的问题，这令人担忧。

傅先生补充说，此外，任何下落不明的核材料都会造成核扩散风险。

针对朝鲜不受约束地发展核武器和弹道导弹计划，这位部长表示，这给地区和全球和平、安全与稳定带来了“相当大的风险”。

在会议上，傅先生还宣布新加坡再次承诺履行其2027年技术合作基金的全部目标。

根据国际原子能机构 2024 年发布的一份报告，新加坡的目标份额为 465,000 欧元（683,000 新元）。