Grace Fu to visit London, Paris for nuclear safety talks

Nuclear power is being considered by governments worldwide as a potential source of low-emissions energy. (PHOTO: PIXABAY)

Source: The Straits Times

Amid growing regional interest in nuclear energy, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will visit London and Paris to meet nuclear regulators, experts and technology providers.

Announcing the engagements on June 1, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said the talks will support Singapore’s efforts to strengthen international partnerships and capabilities in nuclear safety and regulation, as well as develop nuclear talent.

“While Singapore has not made a decision on the deployment of nuclear energy, it is building the capabilities needed to make a rigorous and independent assessment of the safety of nuclear energy,” MSE said.

Britain and France have tapped nuclear energy for decades, with both nations pledging to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as part of efforts to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear power, which harnesses atomic processes to generate electricity, is being considered by governments around the world as a potential source of low-emissions energy.

In May, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore would embark on an International Atomic Energy Agency assessment in 2027 to decide if the country is ready to make an informed decision on deploying nuclear energy.

Fu will be accompanied by officials from MSE and Singapore’s radiation and nuclear safety regulator, the National Environment Agency (NEA), during her visit from June 1 to 5.

In London, she will observe the signing of an agreement between NEA and Britain’s Office for Nuclear Regulation to exchange information and expertise on nuclear safety regulation.

At the signing, she will meet representatives from the office to understand their efforts in assessing the safety of new reactor technologies.

The minister will also visit power and propulsion firm Rolls-Royce to learn about the safety of its small modular reactor (SMR) technology, a project to mass-produce nuclear power plants capable of powering about a million homes each.

Such technology could be suitable for Singapore, as SMRs are smaller than conventional nuclear power plants and can be installed in dense urban areas.

In Paris, Fu, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, will meet senior representatives of France’s nuclear safety and radiation protection authority, as well as the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association, which comprises the heads of nuclear regulatory bodies from 10 countries.

They will exchange views on advancements in nuclear energy technology and developments in safety assessments and regulatory standards, and explore collaborations in nuclear safety and capability building, MSE said.

The visit forms part of Singapore’s longstanding efforts to engage partners that have extensive experience in the safe operation and regulation of nuclear plants. These include the US, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.

In April, NEA signed an agreement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop regulatory skills and its fourth framework with the UN atomic watchdog to enhance capabilities.