Singapore and Finland Sign Nuclear Cooperation MoU as City-State Builds Nuclear Readiness

MoU Signed Between VTT and SNRSI

Finnish research organisation VTT and the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI), based at the National University of Singapore, signed a memorandum of understanding on 30 October. The signing was witnessed by Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry, and Sakari Puisto, Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will cooperate across nuclear reactor technology assessment and safety analysis, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, and capability development. VTT stated that the collaboration is intended to support the development of expertise needed to understand and assess nuclear technologies and nuclear safety.

Institutional Context

SNRSI was established in 2014 under the Nuclear Safety Research and Education Programme and was elevated to a full-fledged institute in 2025. Its mandate covers building Singapore's capabilities in nuclear science, engineering, and safety.

VTT Vice President for Nuclear Energy Jani Halinen said the cooperation aims to support evidence-based decision-making in Singapore by sharing Finland's experience in nuclear safety, waste management, and technology development. SNRSI CEO Low Xin Wei noted that both nations, despite differences in geography and energy systems, share a reliance on specialised expertise and international cooperation to address nuclear safety and technology challenges.

Singapore's Broader Nuclear Programme

The MoU forms part of a wider set of steps Singapore has taken toward potential nuclear power deployment. In March 2022, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) published a report concluding that nuclear energy could supply approximately 10% of the city-state's energy needs, supporting a net-zero power sector by 2050.

In September of the following year, the EMA appointed Mott MacDonald, a UK-headquartered engineering firm, to conduct a study on the safety and technical feasibility of advanced nuclear energy technologies. The study is evaluating technologies such as small modular reactors, assessed against safety features, technology maturity, and commercial readiness.

In his February 2025 Budget speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the government would study the potential deployment of nuclear power and take further steps to build up relevant capabilities. He noted the need for new competencies to evaluate options and assess whether a safe and cost-effective solution exists for Singapore.

Most recently, the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and the EMA launched a series of initiatives aimed at developing a pipeline of local nuclear expertise. These efforts are also intended to prepare Singapore for an International Atomic Energy Agency Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission scheduled for next year.