Nuclear talent gap a concern amid global push for atomic power, says expert

As the world scales up its nuclear energy ambitions, the big missing element is not so much finance or political momentum, but having enough people to run and design the reactors, said nuclear expert Michael Short from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

- Shabana Begum Correspondent

Data has shown that there is only one newcomer for every five nuclear engineers retiring in the US - the country with the largest nuclear fleet globally at nearly 100 plants, said the professor of nuclear science and engineering.

"I liken (nuclear) to medicine, where it's something that's big, dangerous, expensive, and then making sure that (the employees) are properly compensated. Because for somebody to choose nuclear as a job, they need to see a secure future," said Professor Short on Oct 30.

He was speaking on a panel at the Singapore International Energy Week's Thinktank Roundtable on the evolving role of nuclear energy.

The panel was moderated by The Straits Times environment journalist Chin Hui Shan at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

More than 30 countries including France, Japan and the US - have pledged to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, as part of efforts to decarbonise.

Singapore has not made a decision to go nuclear, but is actively laying the groundwork to see if this energy form could become viable for the country in the future.