Nuclear power plant in Singapore not likely for next 10-20 years: expert

Joanne Chan Channel NewsAsia 2 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE : Singapore is unlikely to have a nuclear power plant for at least the next 10 to 20 years, said one advisor to the local energy sector.

On Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore needs to diversify its energy sources and is studying the option of nuclear power.

"We're talking about a process here that's decades, not years, if you think about how long it takes to develop these technologies, and ultimately deploy them. I think the watch will go on for probably another 5 or 10 years or longer, before one actually makes a decision," said Peter Schwartz, chairman of Global Business Network.

"And you won't see a nuclear power plant in or around Singapore for at least something in the order of 10 to 20 years or even longer than that," he added.

Schwartz is also a member of the International Advisory Panel on Energy, set up by the Trade and Industry Ministry in 2008 to provide insights on emerging energy trends.

Another option being explored by Singapore is solar power, which has become more cost effective over the years.

Renewable Energy Corporation has chosen Singapore to develop one of the world's largest integrated solar manufacturing plants.

The S$2.6 billion facility will be officially opened by PM Lee on Wednesday. - CNA /ls

No N-power for next 10-20 years, says MTI adviser
But Singapore should start ball rolling, tackling safety and lack of engineers
Lynn Kan Business Times 3 Nov 10;

ALTHOUGH technology is evolving quickly to come up with safer, smaller and more efficient nuclear reactors, Singapore is unlikely to get a nuclear power plant for another 10-20 years, says a member of the Ministry of Trade and Industry's International Advisory Panel on Energy (IAP).

At a news briefing to wrap up the IAP's three- day meeting, the chairman of Global Business Network, Peter Schwartz, said that the 'process of tracking nuclear power technology and developing the capabilities of understanding that technology' will take decades.

As such, he expects 'Singapore will not make a decision about this for about 5-10 years or longer, and you won't see a nuclear power plant in or around Singapore for at least, in the order of 10-20 years or longer than that, because of the time frames involved'.

The consensus among IAP members is that diversifying into nuclear power is not urgent for Singapore, which for now has arranged for sufficient gas supplies to meet its power needs.

But Claude Mandil, former executive director of the International Energy Agency, said that it would be a mistake for Singapore to sit back. 'Things have to be started immediately because they are lengthy processes,' he said. For one, a strong safety culture must be developed, which should be started now if Singapore wants a nuclear power plant by 2020.

'Singapore must hammer out what is needed to make sure and convince the public that nothing serious will happen with a nuclear power plant,' he said. 'That needs quite a culture - and it's not too early to start.'

Mr Mandil also said that Singapore should not passively watch developments in nuclear power. Rather, it should develop skills and R&D so it can participate in these developments.

Another panellist, Lord Ronald Oxburgh, former chairman of the Shell Transport and Trading Company, pointed out that Singapore lacks nuclear engineers. 'Fundamentally, Singapore is going to need nuclear engineers if it wants to think seriously and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of adding nuclear to the mix,' he said. 'You don't magic up engineers overnight out of the air - they have to be trained, learning safety procedures.'

Mr Mandil said that having a core of nuclear engineers would also help produce solutions best suited to land-scarce Singapore.

'Singapore should wait a little bit to see what is the new kind of reactors, and that's why it should also participate in developing them,' he said. 'If Singapore could improve the safety issues of running a plant - which are already good now - it could even build a plant near the city centre, which would be suitable for Singapore's needs.'