NEA, US nuclear commission sign agreement to enhance Singapore’s nuclear safety capabilities
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Singapore has yet to make a decision on whether to tap nuclear energy, but is assessing the viability of doing so.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s nuclear safety regulator and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) signed a training agreement on April 17.
Under this memorandum of cooperation, a new training programme will be designed for the National Environment Agency (NEA) and its Nuclear Safety Division formed in October 2025, said NEA on April 20.
The focus will be on developing Singapore’s nuclear safety capabilities and regulatory understanding.
NEA said its officers will undergo courses and attachments with the US NRC to gain practical experience in areas including reactor regulation, safety assessments, probabilistic risk assessment and inspection procedures.
This enhanced expertise will “deepen Singapore’s nuclear regulatory knowledge” as the Republic studies the potential deployment of nuclear energy, said NEA. The programme will be for two years.
The agreement was signed by Mr Ang Kok Kiat, group director of NEA’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Group, and Mr David Skeen, director of US NRC’s Office of International Programs, during the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Convention on Nuclear Safety Review Meeting in Vienna.
The IAEA is the UN’s atomic watchdog.
Singapore has yet to make a decision on whether to tap nuclear energy, but is assessing the viability of doing so.
With limited access to renewable energy options here, low-carbon alternatives like nuclear energy could help the country not only to reach its net-zero goals, but also bolster energy security.
Singapore has made several efforts in studying the possible deployment of nuclear energy.
In March, NEA said it will be commissioning three studies to examine international safety standards and potential environmental impacts of nuclear plant facilities – including how to design and operate a reactor safely, what safety systems are needed and how to prevent accidents.
Singapore is also building local talent in the nuclear field. In July 2025, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute was launched at the National University of Singapore to build expertise in nuclear technologies and scientific research. It aims to train 100 nuclear experts by 2030.
The latest agreement builds on NEA’s longstanding partnership with the US NRC under an existing arrangement for technical information exchange and cooperation in nuclear safety matters, said NEA.
This partnership supports the broader US-Singapore civil nuclear cooperation framework, reinforced by the signing of the 123 Agreement in July 2024, NEA added.
This framework allows Singapore to learn more about the latest nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations.
