Singapore
Singapore and US sign landmark nuclear cooperation agreement
Singapore and the US signed a “123 Agreement” on 31 July to explore nuclear technology for climate and energy needs. The deal, set for 30 years, aims to enhance bilateral nuclear cooperation.
On Wednesday, 31 July, Singapore and the United States signed a landmark agreement to explore how nuclear technology can support climate and energy needs.
The “123 Agreement” was signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the second day of his official visit to Singapore.
Despite this significant development, Singapore has not made any decisions regarding the deployment of nuclear energy.
According to a factsheet appended to the joint statement, any decision on deployment will require detailed studies of the safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability of nuclear energy within Singapore’s local context. It was noted that most advanced nuclear reactor designs are still in the research and development phase and have not yet begun commercial operation.
The agreement aims to deepen nuclear cooperation and build on the strong bilateral partnership between Singapore and the US.
Expected to come into force by the end of 2024, the agreement will last for 30 years and enable Singapore to collaborate with other countries using nuclear energy technologies and designs that include components or intellectual property of US origin.
During the signing ceremony, Dr Balakrishnan emphasized the importance of nuclear non-proliferation, which refers to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, as essential to international peace and security. He acknowledged that current conventional nuclear technologies are not suitable for Singapore but stressed the need to stay informed about advances in civil nuclear technology.
The agreement, he said, will facilitate access to information and technological expertise and deepen engagements with US civil nuclear experts.
The US currently has 24 active 123 Agreements, including with China, India, and Japan. Several ASEAN member states also have agreements with the US, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, whose respective deals came into force in 1981 and 2014, and the Philippines, whose agreement entered into force earlier this month on 2 July.
Understanding 123 Agreements
123 Agreements provide a legal framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation, including the export of nuclear material, equipment, and components from the US to another country, according to the US Department of State’s website. These agreements also facilitate cooperation in areas such as educational and technological transfers and collaborations between US and partner countries. Partners are bound by a set of non-proliferation requirements to ensure that information obtained through the agreement is used solely for peaceful purposes.
US Congress approval is needed for the deal, which will facilitate Singapore’s access to detailed information on US nuclear energy technologies and expertise under export control.
Exploring Nuclear Power in Singapore
There have been discussions about exploring nuclear power’s feasibility as a green energy source in Singapore, as the country aims to decarbonize its power sector to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
A 2022 report on Singapore’s energy future, commissioned by the Energy Market Authority, stated that nuclear energy could supply about a tenth of the country’s energy needs by 2050.
In April, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said that Singapore plans to build a pool of about 100 nuclear energy experts in the medium to long term but emphasized that no decision had been made on the deployment of nuclear energy.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony on Wednesday, Dr Tan mentioned that recent technological advances, particularly in small modular reactors, have made it possible for Singapore to study whether newer developments could enable the country to be self-sufficient.
“We are committed to a decarbonization journey, a process that will end by 2050, resulting in net-zero emissions. We will do everything possible to ensure that we achieve those targets while also ensuring our energy security and making it cost-effective for all our citizens,” said Dr Tan.
“Clean nuclear energy is one possible option, but let me be clear, we have not decided whether we’re going to use nuclear energy eventually or not.”
Through the agreement with the US and other capacity-building initiatives, Singapore and the US intend to strengthen civil nuclear cooperation to better understand how advanced nuclear energy technologies, including small modular reactors, can potentially support climate goals while balancing critical energy needs.
Further Initiatives
The US’ Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program aims to support partners in building capabilities to better understand small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear energy technologies, as well as key issues such as nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.
Under the FIRST program, Singapore will gain access to the network of US entities involved in civilian nuclear energy, including the US National Laboratories and companies developing newer nuclear energy technologies, facilitating Singapore’s capability-building process.
FIRST will also serve as a platform to coordinate US-Singapore civil nuclear cooperation, according to the factsheet.
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Nuclear power of any sort should never be in PAPgov’s hands..
Talk big very smart but to rectify any problem they make so many excuses.
Deployment of any form of nuclear energy regardless of any level of safety should not be decided by the government of the day alone.A referendum with a 2/3 majority approval should be sought from all Singapore citizens before a decision can be made , nothing less!!
Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng : “Clean nuclear energy is one possible option, but let me be clear, we have not decided whether we’re going to use nuclear energy eventually or not.” They afraid Singaporean may vote to their (MillionDollar salary) downfall if this is not make clear enough. If they said they had decided on Nuclear Energy, in today’s context, they will loose big chunk of votes. In a few years time, due to Carbon Tax Agreement (Paris Agreement) we will see a significant jump in our day-to-day energy bills. As our water supplies also… Read more »
Talking about Energy.
Currently there is a tech using microwave to melt rocks in a very short time (seeking investors on R&D).
It estimated that to melt a hole (tunnel) big enough towards the earth mantle layer will takes roughly a year or two (instead of drilling which takes decades and not reaching half the distance).
This (mantle heat energy) will create unlimited heat source for generator.
Our gov simply lacks imagination & creativities.
Greed breed stupidity. The 123 agreement study Singapore conduct is a strong signal and plan PAP wants to build nuclear power plant, aim to test the water of Singapore stand on nuclear power plant. PAP want to build nuclear power station to destroy Singapore and Singaporean health. Imagine one fine day, some nations and terrorists attack Singapore and bomb the nuclear power station or nuclear power station leak due to disaster, we will all die. Time to wake up Singaporeans and vote out PAP before it is too late.
Stop building so many datacenters lah. They should be built in countries that have excess renewable electricity. Rather than build them her and IMPORT renewable electricity from elsewhere so far like Cambodia etc !!! All that CO2 from constructing the transmission lines etc … not to say of transmission losses along the way.
I’m guessing its actually to buy nuclear submarines from Uncle Sam. Since Australia will be getting one someday (one or two decades in the future maybe?)
The US has lost the know-how and workforce to construct nuclear power plants on budget and on time. The only “western” country that can do that today is South Korea. It is clearly not intended for civilian nuclear energy.
2 useless morons signing something that will NEVER happen,one asshole can continue to debate in ACS & the US RETARD consigned to the dustbin of history come Nov5th 2024
While touted as safer than before, does it mean it guaranteed safe? If not guaranteed safe, all it takes is one leak for many or most or entire sgp to be radioactive for centuries , becoming uninhabitable wasteland . Property boom?
One tiny ikan bilis trying to mate & swim with whales .
One swipe of the whale” s tail and the ikan bilis will disappear into the dark depts.
Let’s face this fact:
Singapore has decided to build Nuclear power station.
The only questions will be:
1. When it will materialize;
2. How to provide justifications.
Justifications will be easy, in the next few years, the cost of energy in Singapore will raise significantly until certain threshold, significantly exceeding profitability margin of providing nuclear energy and offer lucative ROI.
By that time, many Singaporean will appreciate having nuclear plants in Tuas, or Senoko, or Changi poviding economical energy prices.