As neighbours eye nuclear power, S'pore must build its capabilities too: Minister

Technical expertise in this area needed to ensure country's safety, says Tan See Leng

- Chin Hui Shan

Singapore has to build its capabilities in nuclear energy even though it has not made a decision on its use, as countries in the region have publicly signalled their intent to build such facilities.

Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, said in an interview on July 21 that the country needs to acquire technical expertise in this area to ensure its safety.

"Our neighbours, the Philippines, Indonesia, have publicly signalled that they intend to build nuclear plants. So, regardless of whether we have made the decision, our neighbours have made the decision," he said in his first interview in the new portfolio.

Dr Tan was previously overseeing energy issues as Second Minister for Trade and Industry.

Five Asean countries — Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand — have said they are either studying the feasibility of advanced nuclear technology to meet their growing energy needs, or already have plans to build new reactors in the coming decades.

As Singapore continues to evaluate the viability of nuclear energy for the country, local talents have to be trained so they can determine whether advanced nuclear technologies are safe and suitable for the Republic when these come onto the market, Dr Tan said.