Singapore to still consider use of nuclear energy

Straits Times 15 Apr 10;

MOVES for greater global efforts to tighten nuclear security would not affect Singapore's plans to consider the possible use of nuclear energy, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said in Washington.

A two-day summit on nuclear security there ended on Tuesday with 47 world leaders adopting a communique and work plan that would boost efforts to lock down or destroy vulnerable atomic materials.

The summit is part of United States President Barack Obama's broader plans to toughen the international regime against nuclear proliferation, and to eventually rid the world of atomic weapons.

Asked if these developments would in any way affect Singapore's plans to consider nuclear power as a source of energy supply, Mr Lee said: 'No, it doesn't. Many countries use nuclear power, and more wish to study the possibility. But there must be proper safeguards as to how the reactors work, how the materials are secured, and in fact what sort of materials to use because there are reactors which use highly enriched uranium which can be used to make bombs.

'So these are considerations which we have to take seriously. But they should not hinder the project.'

He stressed that a final decision had not been made, and that the Government was just beginning to study the long-term feasibility of nuclear power for Singapore.

Giving his impressions of the summit, he said Mr Obama deserved credit for bringing the issue of nuclear terrorism to global attention, and bringing world leaders together to discuss what could be done to mitigate the risks. During the summit, Mr Obama warned that terrorist groups were trying to get their hands on a nuclear weapon.

Mr Lee said during a plenary session with world leaders that Singapore took the issue seriously as it posed an 'existential threat' to a city-state.

Singapore, due to its status as a major transhipment hub, has been actively involved in multilateral efforts to curb shipments of illicit nuclear cargo.

However, second-tier ports must be involved in this effort as well, he said, or terrorists would simply exploit the weakest links in the global trading system.

He added: 'We are doing what we can in Singapore because we are a major port. But if we take it seriously and others don't, then doubtful containers would bypass Singapore.

'There are so many other places they could go. So the second-tier ports also must be brought into the net, and that's a challenge.'

CHUA CHIN HON