As Singapore pushes to transform its economy into one that is more digital and innovation driven, the issue of energy security has become an existential one. This has led the country to “seriously study” the potential of advanced nuclear energy technologies, said Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng.
Dr Tan, who is also Minister for Manpower, spoke about Singapore’s energy transition for a low-carbon future, while securing its energy resilience, at the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s (MTI) Committee of Supply debate on Monday (March 2).
“As demand grows and as we decarbonise, the Government will continue to strike a pragmatic balance between energy sustainability, security, and affordability.
“Decarbonisation will come with costs, but cannot and will not be at all costs,” Dr Tan said.
Nuclear energy can be ‘safe, reliable, and cost-competitive’
The minister provided the House with an update on the progress of Singapore’s solar and low-carbon alternatives efforts.
He noted that while “remarkable” progress has been made in solar energy deployment and low-carbon solutions, they are either insufficient, or not ready for deployment at scale, due to technological nascency or under-development supply chains.
“Thus, while we may not have made a decision, we are seriously studying the potential deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies, such as small modular reactions.
