“Nuclear energy technologies presently available are not yet suitable for Singapore,” is the conclusion of a pre-feasibility study on nuclear energy ordered by the Singapore government.
The Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) released a summary of the study’s conclusions on 15 October 2012.
It said that: “the risks to Singapore, given that we are a small and dense city, still outweigh the benefits [of nuclear energy] at this point.”
Singapore ‘prefers to wait’ for technology and safety to improve further before reconsidering its options, MTI said, noting that “over time, nuclear power plants with safer and more robust designs will be developed.”
The pre-feasibility study also concluded that Singapore needs to keep monitoring nuclear energy technology developments and should strengthen its capabilities in that field.
“Singapore needs to strengthen our capabilities to understand nuclear science and technology. This will enable us to assess the implications of evolving nuclear energy technologies and regional nuclear energy developments for Singapore, and enhance our operational preparedness,” it said.
MTI said that it would support research in relevant areas of nuclear science and engineering, and train a pool of scientists and experts through education programmes in local and overseas universities.
The pre-feasibility study, embarked on in 2010, covered a range of areas, including nuclear safety, security and risk assessment, human resource development, and nuclear energy systems and demand. It involved several government agencies, external consultants and independent expert advisers, including NERA Economic Consulting.
