Singapore has appointed 12 international consultancy and law firms to build technical, regulatory, and economic know-how ahead of a review by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2027. Announcing the move at the Singapore International Energy Week conference, Minister Tan See Leng emphasised that these partnerships will prepare Singapore for the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 Mission.
The main goal is to determine if Singapore is ready to make an informed decision regarding future nuclear energy deployment. The government has explicitly stated that no definitive decision to adopt nuclear energy has been made yet.
The panel of consultants appointed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) spans global infrastructure companies, specialised legal practices, and economic advisors. They will cover organisational strategies, industrial involvement, financial frameworks, and international compliance.
Engineering & technical advisers include Aecom Singapore, Afry Singapore, AtkinsRéalis Singapore, Excel Services Corporation, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) Asia Pacific, Mott Macdonald Singapore, and WSP Consultancy.
Management & financial strategy specialists include Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and EY Corporate Advisors. Nuclear & energy law firms include GNE Advisory, Helixos, and Pinsent Masons MPillay.
Concurrently, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has commissioned three separate firms – AtkinsRéalis, Enconet Consulting, and Environmental Resources Management (ERM) – to focus specifically on nuclear safety standards, radiation limits, and environmental protection.
AtkinsRéalis Singapore will scrutinise global safety standards regarding reactor design and operations. It focuses on identifying critical safety systems, incident prevention mechanisms, and emergency protocols.
Enconet Consulting, based in Vienna, will evaluate international environmental standards and regulatory frameworks. Key areas include reactor safety benchmarks, radiation dose limits for workers, and the strict protocols required for the safe handling of radioactive waste.
ERM will investigate the potential environmental impact of a nuclear facility within Singapore or the surrounding region. It will prioritise safeguarding public health and protecting ecosystems during any potential construction or operational phases.
These studies explicitly address the “19 infrastructure areas” outlined under the IAEA’s Milestones Approach. The NEA’s environmental and safety research runs parallel to the EMA’s corporate, legal, and engineering consultants tasked with building organisational and economic frameworks.
Together, these initiatives ensure that if Singapore ever decides to progress with advanced nuclear options, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), it will have a comprehensive, world-class regulatory oversight ecosystem already in place.
Minister for Energy, Trade & Industry Dr Tan See Leng, during the Singapore International Energy Week conference, noted that undertaking a nuclear power programme is a complex endeavour. Singapore’s expertise has to be strengthened across a range of dimensions – from workforce development to financing, and from laws to industry development, he said.
While clear government policies are important, “the scale and complexity of nuclear projects mean that strong international partnerships and viable financing models will be critical, especially for newcomer countries”, he added.
Meanwhile, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are working towards launching a joint master’s programme in nuclear engineering in 2027, as Singapore steps up efforts to build a pipeline of local nuclear talent and expertise. Dr Tan announced the development alongside two new nuclear manpower development programmes aimed at public-sector officers and industry professionals.
A new Nuclear Manpower Development Programme for the public sector will provide opportunities for Singaporean public officers to gain on-the-job experience at leading global nuclear organisations, helping them strengthen their nuclear-related skills and competencies.
A separate Nuclear Manpower Development Programme for industry will support professionals from selected Singapore-based companies in gaining hands-on experience with trusted international partners.
“Even if Singapore eventually decides not to deploy nuclear energy, the capabilities and expertise we are developing today will continue to serve us well, particularly as interest in nuclear energy grows across Southeast Asia and around the world,” he said.
