The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have appointed panels of consultants to help Singapore prepare for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 Mission next year.
EMA expects to appoint a second panel of technical experts by the end of this year to support Singapore’s efforts to build expertise in nuclear energy.
Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), announced the developments on Tuesday (27 October) in a speech at the inaugural joint forum organised by EMA and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
EMA has appointed a panel comprising 12 consultancy firms. Its work will be divided into three broad categories based on the key areas covered by the IAEA Milestones Approach: technical and economic matters, legal and regulatory frameworks, and organisational structures.
The technical and economic areas include nuclear safety, funding and financing, radiation protection, environmental protection, safeguards, sites and supporting facilities, the electrical grid, nuclear security, the nuclear fuel cycle, radioactive waste management and emergency planning.
The legal and regulatory frameworks cover laws and regulations relating to nuclear energy. Organisational structures encompass national policy direction, industrial involvement, procurement, management systems, human resource development and stakeholder engagement.
EMA chief executive Puah Kok Keong said developing the capabilities to rigorously assess the safety and suitability of nuclear energy is an important part of efforts to explore ways to strengthen Singapore’s energy security.
“We look forward to partnering the panel of consultants to strengthen our technical capabilities and support Singapore’s preparations for the INIR Phase 1 Mission next year.”
NEA also announced in a statement on Tuesday that it had formally appointed three consultancy firms to help strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in nuclear safety, regulation and environmental protection.
The agency announced in March this year that it would launch three nuclear safety-related studies within the year.
These will examine international regulations and environmental standards for nuclear facilities, international nuclear safety standards and requirements and the potential environmental impact of nuclear power plants.
The three consultancy firms appointed to undertake this work are Enconet Consulting GMBH, AtkinsRéalis Singapore and Environmental Resources Management (ERM).
The Singapore government has yet to decide whether to deploy nuclear energy. It is building and strengthening expertise in 19 key areas, including nuclear technology, legal frameworks and organisational structures, under the IAEA Milestones Approach, so that it can make an informed decision on whether to adopt nuclear energy.
NEA chief executive officer Geraldine Low said building strong technical and regulatory capabilities is critical in assessing the safety of nuclear energy.
“These studies will support NEA in strengthening our expertise in areas including nuclear safety, regulation and environmental protection, drawing on international experience and practices.”
