Singapore and the US have signed an agreement to study how nuclear technology can support climate and energy needs. The agreement was signed by Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his official visit to Singapore.
The agreement, known as a “123 Agreement”, after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, which requires the conclusion of a peaceful cooperation agreement before significant transfers of nuclear material or equipment from the US can begin.
According to a joint statement, the agreement will enable deeper nuclear cooperation and build on Singapore and US’ strong bilateral partnership. The agreement, which is expected to come into force by the end of the year, will last for 30 years.
“The United States and Singapore collaborate closely on matters involving nuclear safety, security, and safeguards, including in regional and multilateral fora. Over the past decade, the United States has supported Singapore’s efforts to better understand the safety and reliability of advanced nuclear energy technologies and build capacity,” the joint statement said. “Since 2017, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) have had arrangements to collaborate on nuclear safety matters, and most recently held a joint workshop in July 2024 under these arrangements.”
It added: “Through this agreement, as well as other capacity building initiatives, such as the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme, the United States and Singapore intend to further 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. This will support Singapore’s efforts to understand and evaluate advanced nuclear energy technologies, should viable options emerge.”
This agreement will enable Singapore to collaborate with other countries that use nuclear energy technologies and designs containing components or intellectual property of US origin. However, Singapore noted that it has not made any decision regarding the deployment of nuclear energy, according to the factsheet appended to the joint statement. “Any deployment decision will require detailed studies of the safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability of nuclear energy in our local context. Most designs of advanced nuclear reactors are still undergoing research and development and have not begun commercial operation.”
Dr Balakrishnan said at the signing ceremony that current conventional nuclear technologies are not suitable for Singapore. “But given advances in civil nuclear technology, we need to stay abreast of breakthroughs in this rapidly evolving field.”
A 123 Agreement provides a legal framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation such as the export of nuclear material, equipment, and components from the United States to another country, according to the US Department of State website. Partners are obliged to accept non-proliferation requirements to guarantee that the information obtained through the agreement will only be used 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 that are under export control.
According to a 2022 report on Singapore’s energy future, commissioned by the Energy Market Authority, nuclear energy could supply about a tenth of Singapore’s energy needs by 2050.
In April, Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade & Industry, Tan See Leng, said there were plans to build a pool of about 100 nuclear energy experts in the medium to long run but stressed that no decision had been made on the deployment of nuclear energy. At the signing ceremony, Dr Tan said recent technological advances, particularly in small modular reactors (SMRs), have made it possible for Singapore to study whether new developments could enable the country to be self-sufficient.
“We are committed to a decarbonisation journey, a process that will end by 2050, resulting in net zero emissions. So, we will do everything that’s possible to ensure that we achieve those targets but at the same time, we need to always ensure our own energy security, and also make it cost effective for all of our fellow citizens…. Clean nuclear energy is one possible option but let me be clear, we have not decided on whether we’re going to eventually use nuclear energy or not.”
