Singapore begins IAEA nuclear readiness process, assesses 19 infrastructure areas

Singapore will undergo an IAEA review in 2027 to assess its readiness for potential nuclear energy deployment. (Photo: iStock)

Singapore will undergo an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review in 2027 to assess whether the country has the institutional, technical and regulatory foundations needed to make an informed decision on nuclear energy deployment.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the assessment does not represent a decision to deploy nuclear energy, but rather an evaluation of whether Singapore has developed the capabilities needed to seriously consider the option in the future.

“Safety will always be our overriding priority,” Wong said on Tuesday. “As a small and densely populated city-state, we have no margin for error.”

Singapore has studied nuclear energy for more than a decade, but rising electricity demand, energy security concerns and growing regional interest in advanced nuclear technologies are pushing the issue back into focus. The government has increasingly pointed to small modular reactors (SMRs) as a potentially more suitable option for land-constrained Singapore.

Unlock the full article to explore three key takeaways:

1. Singapore will undergo an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review in 2027 to assess whether it has the institutional, technical and regulatory foundations needed to make an informed decision on nuclear energy deployment.
2. The review forms part of the IAEA’s “Milestones Approach”, a phased framework that can take more than 10 to 15 years and guides countries from initial nuclear planning to operating a first nuclear power plant.
3. Singapore’s readiness assessment will examine 19 infrastructure areas, including nuclear safety, emergency planning, radioactive waste management, regulatory frameworks and grid readiness, as the country explores small modular reactors amid rising energy security concerns.