Singapore, China Ink Nuclear Cooperation Pact
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- Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and China's Atomic Energy Authority signed an MOU on Aug 17 on peaceful nuclear technology cooperation, witnessed by Minister Dr Tan See Leng and CAEA Chairman Shan Zhongde.
- The pact covers reactor technology safety and technical assessments, manpower training, scientific visits, public education, nuclear safeguards and security, and nuclear technology applications.
- The China deal is one of several — Singapore is simultaneously engaging the US, France, and South Korea to build independent nuclear assessment capabilities.
- These multi-partner engagements feed into Singapore's preparation for the IAEA's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 mission in 2027.
- MTI Permanent Secretary Augustin Lee and CAEA Vice-Chairman Liu Jing signed the MOU.
- In April, Singapore's National Environment Agency signed a cooperation memo with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to train its newly formed nuclear safety division, and Singapore also signed a five-year framework agreement with the IAEA.
- PM Lawrence Wong said in his Budget 2025 speech that the government would study the potential deployment of nuclear power and systematically build capabilities in the area.
Why it matters: Singapore, a land-scarce city-state with no nuclear power, is methodically building independent regulatory expertise across multiple jurisdictions rather than relying on any single partner. The IAEA's 2027 INIR Phase 1 mission is the next concrete checkpoint that will test whether that capability build is on track before any deployment decision is considered.
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