Nuclear Energy and Energy Independence: Lessons for Singapore

Energy independence has become an increasingly important issue for countries navigating volatile fuel markets, geopolitical uncertainty, rising electricity demand, and the transition toward low-carbon economies. For Singapore, the challenge is particularly significant. The city-state has limited domestic energy resources and currently depends heavily on imported fuels to keep its power system running. In 2024, natural gas accounted for about 94% of Singapore’s electricity-generation fuel mix, while in the first half of 2025 it still represented 93.1%.

This dependence does not mean Singapore lacks energy security. The country has built sophisticated infrastructure, diversified gas procurement and pursued regional electricity connections. However, dependence on imported energy inevitably creates exposure to international supply disruptions and price volatility. Events affecting LNG production, shipping routes or major suppliers can quickly influence energy markets. In 2026, for example, Singapore had to secure additional LNG cargoes after supply disruptions, illustrating why diversification remains an important part of long-term energy planning.

Against this background, nuclear energy has entered Singapore’s long-term energy conversation. It could potentially provide firm, low-carbon electricity while reducing the amount of fossil fuel required for power generation. Yet Singapore has not decided to deploy nuclear power. Instead, the government is building expertise and studying whether emerging nuclear technologies could eventually meet the country’s stringent requirements.

Why Energy Independence Matters for Singapore

For Singapore, energy independence should not necessarily mean producing every unit of energy domestically. Given the country's geography and limited natural resources, complete self-sufficiency would be extremely difficult. A more practical interpretation is energy resilience: reducing excessive reliance on any single fuel, supplier, technology or import route.

Singapore’s dependence on natural gas illustrates this challenge. Gas has major advantages because modern gas-fired power stations are efficient and flexible, but the fuel must largely come from outside Singapore. That means international fuel prices and disruptions in global supply chains can affect the domestic electricity system.

The issue may become increasingly important as electricity consumption grows. Singapore's Energy Market Authority has indicated that electricity demand could increase by roughly 2% to 5% annually through 2035, driven partly by advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, data centres and transport electrification.

A resilient energy system therefore needs multiple complementary sources rather than dependence on a single solution.

How Nuclear Energy Could Strengthen Energy Security

Nuclear power has one characteristic particularly relevant to energy independence: extremely energy-dense fuel. A nuclear facility can generate large quantities of electricity from relatively small quantities of fuel compared with fossil-fuel power stations.

For an import-dependent country, that characteristic could potentially reduce exposure to continuous shipments of natural gas or other fossil fuels. Nuclear fuel would still generally involve international supply chains, so nuclear power would not eliminate import dependence. However, it could change the nature and scale of that dependence.

Nuclear generation can also provide electricity regardless of sunshine or other weather conditions. This firm generation could complement solar energy and imported renewable electricity.

That distinction matters in Singapore because land constraints limit how much renewable generation can realistically be installed domestically. Solar remains an important part of Singapore's energy transition, but it cannot independently provide all of the country's electricity needs. EMA therefore describes nuclear as one of the options being carefully studied as Singapore considers how to reduce emissions while maintaining reliability and manageable costs.

Small Modular Reactors and Singapore

Traditional nuclear plants are large facilities requiring substantial land, financing, cooling infrastructure and extensive safety systems. Singapore's small geographical size makes conventional nuclear deployment especially challenging.

This is one reason small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies have attracted attention.

SMRs are designed with significantly smaller generating capacities than conventional large reactors and could potentially offer more flexible deployment options. However, many advanced reactor designs have not yet accumulated the extensive commercial operating experience of established large-reactor technologies.

Singapore is therefore evaluating rather than assuming their suitability.

In September 2025, EMA announced that it had appointed Mott MacDonald Singapore to study advanced nuclear technologies. The work evaluates factors including safety performance, technical feasibility, technological maturity and commercial readiness, with SMRs among the technologies under consideration.

That cautious approach offers an important lesson about energy independence: diversification only strengthens security when the technologies being added are demonstrably safe, reliable and economically workable.

Nuclear Energy and Singapore's Low-Carbon Transition

Energy independence and climate policy increasingly overlap.

A country that replaces imported fossil fuels with low-carbon domestic electricity can potentially address energy-security and emissions objectives simultaneously. Nuclear power could theoretically contribute to this strategy because reactors generate electricity without directly burning fossil fuels.

For Singapore, however, nuclear should be viewed within a broader portfolio rather than as a replacement for every other energy option.

Solar generation, electricity imports, natural gas, energy efficiency, storage, hydrogen and potentially nuclear technologies can perform different functions within the power system. Regional electricity trade is particularly important because Singapore's domestic renewable resources are constrained. Renewable electricity imports and local solar generation have already been expanding, although their current shares remain relatively modest compared with gas.

A diversified system could therefore reduce the consequences of disruption to any single energy source.

The Challenges Singapore Must Address

Nuclear energy also introduces challenges that energy-security discussions cannot ignore.

Safety remains fundamental, particularly in a densely populated city-state. Any nuclear programme would require strong emergency preparedness, security arrangements, waste-management strategies and an independent regulatory framework. Singapore would also need highly trained engineers, scientists, regulators and emergency-response specialists.

Radioactive waste management represents another long-term responsibility. Even advanced reactors require clear plans for handling radioactive materials and spent fuel according to applicable safety and security standards.

Economics also matters. Nuclear projects can involve significant upfront investment, long development periods and financing risks. Although SMRs aim to benefit from modular manufacturing and standardized construction, their eventual commercial economics remain uncertain because large-scale deployment experience is still developing.

Singapore therefore needs evidence rather than assumptions before determining whether advanced nuclear technology fits its power system.

Building Nuclear Knowledge Before Building Reactors

Perhaps the most important lesson from Singapore's approach is that energy independence starts with capabilities, not simply infrastructure.

Singapore has been developing nuclear expertise for years. The Ministry of Trade and Industry states that more than S$150 million has been invested in nuclear-related capabilities, while the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative has helped consolidate domestic expertise since 2014. In July 2025, SNRSI was designated an institute, expanding its role in areas including reactor simulation, modelling and safety assessment.

The government has also increased resources available for the wider energy transition. Budget 2025 doubled the Future Energy Fund from S$5 billion to S$10 billion, supporting Singapore's efforts to secure cleaner energy sources, including electricity imports, hydrogen and potentially nuclear energy.

This capacity-building approach allows Singapore to evaluate future technologies from a stronger technical and regulatory position rather than rushing into deployment.

Lessons for Singapore's Energy Future

The central lesson is that energy independence is ultimately about resilience and strategic flexibility.

Singapore does not need to eliminate energy imports to become more energy secure. Instead, it can reduce concentration risk by combining diversified gas supplies, domestic solar generation, regional electricity imports, emerging low-carbon technologies and stronger energy infrastructure.

Nuclear energy could eventually become one component of that portfolio if advanced technologies demonstrate the necessary levels of safety, reliability, commercial maturity and suitability for Singapore's unique environment. As of 2026, however, Singapore has made no decision to deploy nuclear power.

That distinction is important. Nuclear energy should not be presented as an inevitable answer to Singapore's energy-security challenges, nor should its potential contribution be dismissed before emerging technologies are properly evaluated.

Conclusion

Singapore's energy story has always been shaped by resource constraints. With little conventional domestic energy supply and limited space for large-scale renewable generation, the country has historically depended on international markets, infrastructure development and technological innovation to maintain reliable electricity.

Nuclear energy introduces another possible pathway. Its high energy density, firm generation and low operational carbon emissions could potentially help Singapore diversify away from heavy dependence on natural gas while supporting long-term decarbonisation. At the same time, safety, waste management, economics, regulation, land constraints and technological maturity remain critical considerations.

For Singapore, therefore, the most valuable lesson about nuclear energy and energy independence is not simply whether to build reactors. It is the importance of creating options before they become urgently necessary. By developing technical expertise, evaluating advanced technologies and maintaining a diversified energy strategy, Singapore can strengthen its ability to respond to future energy shocks and changing technologies. In a world where energy security and climate security are increasingly interconnected, that flexibility may ultimately be one of Singapore's most important energy assets.

While Singapore is a nuclear-free zone, understanding potential radiation risks is crucial. Our detailed guide explores these risks, outlines Singapore's safety frameworks, and highlights singaporenuclear.com as a key resource for PPE and radiation hardware for enhanced preparedness.