On 27 October 2025, Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (“EMA“) announced the signing of two new cooperation instruments with its United States (“US“) counterparts to enhance Singapore’s national capabilities in assessing advanced nuclear energy technologies.
The two new cooperation instruments are:
- a Memorandum of Understanding between EMA and Battelle Memorial Institute to provide a framework for cooperation on nuclear energy capability building, research and development; and
- a Letter of Intent with Idaho National Laboratory to work with EMA towards establishing a formal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for studies, technical assessments and capacity building in advanced nuclear energy technologies.
These cooperation agreements support feasibility studies for potential future deployment of nuclear energy for power generation in Singapore. They also deepen civil nuclear ties under the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation signed in July 2024 and January 2025, respectively, by Singapore and the US.
Additionally, the US Department of Energy has added Singapore to the Part 810 list of Generally Authorised Destinations for exports of controlled nuclear technology and assistance (“List“). The designation eases export-control frictions for certain transfers of controlled nuclear technology and assistance, while maintaining compliance obligations, reporting and technology-specific restrictions. We understand other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, are also part of the List.
Also released on 27 October 2025 was the Government’s background paper titled “Building Singapore’s Capabilities to Assess Nuclear Energy”. The paper outlines Singapore’s strategic approach to studying the potential for domestic nuclear energy use. The paper highlights Singapore’s nuclear capability building, which takes on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach, and commitment to learning from international partners and strengthening global collaborations, to ensure that they are in line with global standards on nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
Click on the following links for more information (available on the EMA website at www.ema.gov.sg):
- EMA Media Release titled “Singapore Deepens Cooperation with the United States”
- Digital booklet on Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Background Paper titled “Building Singapore’s Capabilities to Assess Nuclear Energy“
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