- Government to reorganise for greater focus on nuclear energy capabilities
- S$5 billion top-up to Future Energy Fund
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While Singapore has not yet decided whether to deploy nuclear power to meet its energy needs, the government has enhanced its focus on this low-carbon source of electricity, said analysts.
They were responding to the government’s plans to reorganise for “greater emphasis” on building nuclear capabilities, as Finance Minister Lawrence Wong stated in his Budget speech on Tuesday (18 Feb).
“This reorganisation reflects a proactive approach to thoroughly assess the feasibility of integrating nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), into Singapore’s energy landscape,” said Lee Poh Seng, executive director of the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore.
SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with a smaller power capacity which supposedly have better safety and economic aspects than conventional nuclear power plants.
Singapore had previously said it was looking into potentially using nuclear power, such as SMRs, in its strategy to decarbonise its energy sector.
This is part of wider plans to achieve the country’s 2050 target of net zero carbon emissions.
