Powering up minds for a nuclear powered Singapore

Ong Dai Lin Today Online 8 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE - If Singapore is to prepare to use nuclear energy here, expect courses and overseas training to build up capabilities. But do not hold your breath for an undergraduate degree on nuclear energy, say experts.

In fact, there are already faculty members in the local universities who are trained in the basic principles of nuclear energy and who can be tapped, Professor Soh Yeng Chai, associate dean of research at Nanyang Technological University's College of Engineering, told MediaCorp.

"There is existing expertise in Singapore. It's just that, in the past, there was no opportunity to work on this issue. Now's the chance to gather them to work together," he said.

Dr Tseng King Jet, who heads the division of power engineering at NTU, says around 50 experts would be needed.

The first priority may be to beef up capacity in nuclear physics but Singapore would also need experts such as mathematicians, geologists and computer scientists, said Dr Hooman Peimani, principal fellow at National University of Singapore's Energy Studies Institute.

Besides looking at nuclear safety and engineering, they would have to tackle issues such as energy economics, environmental considerations and, if nuclear power becomes feasible, plan a nuclear programme, said Dr Tseng and Dr Peimani.

"You need the specific type of expertise for the type of reactor you choose. So, we'll need to send people overseas for training with the supplier of the reactor," said Dr Peimani.

As to whether Singapore should set up university courses to train nuclear engineers, he says it depends on the scope of nuclear energy as a power source here.

"If Singapore wants to have a small nuclear programme, then maybe it does not make sense to invest in training a large number of people," he said.

Mr Graham Tyler, head of Wood Mackenzie's South East Asia Gas & Power service, said there are three phases of nuclear power development.

"Firstly, governments need to set up a comprehensive nuclear legal framework with regulatory systems and operation plans. Secondly, an independent regulatory authority needs to be set up to implement the operation plans according to International Atomic Energy Agency standards," he said. "Lastly, there needs to be supervision during implementation as well as continued international commitments to maintain the confidence of neighbouring states."

Mr Tyler said that Singapore would need to set up a nuclear directorate to oversee the independent regulation and inspection of a nuclear industry. He added that Singapore would also need to prove the commercial and technical rationale for having a nuclear programme.

A team of experts assembled in April by the Trade and Industry Ministry is now studying the feasibility of nuclear energy here.