Singapore is intensifying its study of nuclear energy as a potential solution to meet its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, recognizing that the city-state’s geographic constraints make traditional renewable energy sources insufficient for its long-term power needs.
The government has established dedicated nuclear energy teams within key agencies—the Nuclear Energy Office within the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Nuclear Safety Division within the National Environment Agency (NEA)—to lead capability-building efforts. These teams are actively hiring and collaborating with international partners including the United States and France to assess the feasibility of deploying advanced reactor technologies in the compact island nation.
Singapore’s energy security challenge is acute. Most of the city-state’s electricity currently comes from natural gas, a finite resource whose price will rise as global supplies diminish. Solar power, the only large-scale renewable viable for Singapore, can realistically contribute no more than 10 percent of the island’s energy needs by 2050 due to severe land constraints. Wind and hydropower face similar geographic barriers, making nuclear energy an increasingly attractive option despite historical hesitation about its suitability for a small, densely populated territory.
A Shift in Assessment
In 2012, Singapore’s pre-feasibility study concluded that conventional nuclear power plants were not suited for the city-state. However, the study recommended continued monitoring of emerging technologies. That recommendation has proved prescient. In March 2022, the EMA released analysis concluding that nuclear energy could supply approximately 10 percent of Singapore’s energy needs, potentially helping the power sector achieve net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century.
The International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi has suggested that Singapore could become a leading example of low-carbon energy solutions in Southeast Asia. “Singapore could be the most perfect example of a country that needs nuclear energy,” Grossi stated, citing the nation’s technological expertise, mature institutions, and decarbonisation goals as factors supporting potential deployment.
Small modular reactors (SMRs)—a newer technology requiring significantly less land than conventional reactors while maintaining high energy density—have emerged as the preferred option for Singapore’s context. According to Wood Mackenzie analysis, Singapore is expected to potentially add 0.8 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050, which could reduce reliance on imported liquefied natural gas and clean electricity imports. Southeast Asia’s broader nuclear ambitions, including projects in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, will require approximately $208 billion in investment to develop 25 gigawatts of capacity by 2050, with SMRs emerging as the technology of choice despite significantly higher upfront costs.
Energy Security and Climate Imperatives
The case for nuclear hinges on three interconnected factors: climate change mitigation, energy security, and economic viability. Hydrocarbons, which dominate Singapore’s current energy mix, contribute substantially to global carbon emissions. As natural gas reserves deplete and prices rise, alternatives become economically and strategically essential. Nuclear power offers a mature, proven technology with an established safety record—approximately 450 reactors operate globally with over 20,000 cumulative reactor-years of safe operation.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pledged an additional S$5 billion (US$3.85 billion) to Singapore’s Future Energy Fund in his February 2025 budget speech, specifically to develop clean energy infrastructure including nuclear, hydrogen, and electricity imports. This commitment reflects the government’s seriousness in building the regulatory, technical, and institutional capacity required for potential nuclear deployment.
Singapore has simultaneously pursued diversified energy pathways. The government has granted conditional approval to import approximately 1 gigawatt of hydropower from Sarawak by around 2035 and is studying a second interconnector with Malaysia that could add up to 2 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. The nation has awarded approximately 8 gigawatts of conditional licenses and approvals for power imports to date. A geothermal feasibility study launched last year is expected to yield results by late 2026, providing clarity on the potential for subterranean energy sources.
Public Trust and Regulatory Framework
The Singapore government has emphasized that public confidence remains central to any future nuclear decision. Officials have committed to regular public engagement on nuclear energy developments, building informed understanding of both the benefits and risks. This approach reflects lessons from nuclear energy debates globally, where community acceptance has determined deployment success or failure in developed democracies.
No final decision on nuclear energy deployment has been made. The government maintains that any decision will account for safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability within Singapore’s specific context. The EMA is conducting ongoing technical assessments of advanced reactor technologies through cooperation frameworks with institutions including the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), America’s primary nuclear energy research facility.
For regional context, Reuters has reported that nuclear interest across Southeast Asia is accelerating, with Vietnam planning its first plants between 2031 and 2035, the Philippines aiming for 1,200 megawatts by 2032, Malaysia targeting nuclear integration by 2031, and Indonesia planning a 500-megawatt plant by 2032 with a 10-gigawatt goal by 2040.
Singapore’s nuclear exploration reflects a pragmatic reassessment of energy realities. The city-state cannot rely solely on renewables given geographic constraints, cannot depend indefinitely on natural gas as prices rise and supplies diminish, and must balance climate commitments with energy security. Whether offshore nuclear facilities—which could increase distance between reactors and population centers but introduce additional technical complexities—might eventually complement onshore deployment remains an open question within Singapore’s ongoing assessment phase.
The coming years will determine whether Singapore follows through on capability-building investments to move from serious study to potential deployment, positioning the island nation as a regional pioneer in integrating advanced nuclear technology into a modern, densely populated urban economy.
