singapore nuclear research and safety initiative (snrsi) · before reconsidering this option. ......

A briefing on the newly established

Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety

Initiative (SNRSI)

NUS Energy Office SeminarUniversity Hall Auditorium, 8 January 2015

NUS Presentation Title 2006

Regional Development

• In the past decade, Southeast Asian countries have been actively exploring the adoption of nuclear energy.

• Vietnam signed an intergovernmental agreements with Russia in October 2010 to build a nuclear power plant (NPP). The NPP is expected to have two reactors of 1.2GWe each, to be operational by about 2023.

• On the same day, another intergovernmental agreement was signed with Japan to build another NPP of similar capacity, to be operational about one year after the Russian NPP.

• Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are also seriously looking into the construction of NPP in the next decade.


Vietnam

• The Russian NPP will be sited at Phuoc Dinh, Ninh Thuan Province (11º24’48”N, 108º58’29”E).

• It is about 1,250 km from Singapore.

• The Japanese NPP will be sited at Vinh Hai, in the same Ninh ThuanProvince.

• In 2014, 344 Vietnamese students were studying in Russia preparing for the NPP project. Another 160 engineers were helping with the construction of an NPP in Russia.

» Source of Information: World Nuclear Association


Indonesia

• The current preferred site is at Bangka Island. The site has been evaluated to be suitable for some 10GWe capacity, meeting 40% of the energy demand of Sumatra, Java and Bali. The site is about 470 km from Singapore.

• Plan for large NPPs delayed.

• A 30MW NPP is planned to be built at Serpong, near Jakarta.

• Collaborating with Japan on 10MWe demonstration HTR, to be operational by 2020. If successful, it will be followed by a number of 100MWe units at Kalimantan, Sulawesi and other Islands

» Source of Information: World Nuclear Association


Regional Development

• As any NPP incident in the region could lead to trans-boundary consequences, these developments have important implications for the security and safety of Singapore.

• We will also need to more closely monitor the food import from regions near locations where there is risk of contamination by radioactive materials.


Singapore’s Position and Response

• After a two-year pre-feasibility study, Singapore has announced in parliament in October 2012 that it will not pursue nuclear power with current NPP technology.

• It will wait for NPP technology and safety to improve further before reconsidering this option.

“The latest designs of nuclear power plants are much

safer than older designs which remain in use in many

countries. However, the risks to Singapore, given that

we are small and dense, still outweigh the benefits at

this point. As we are planning for the very long term and

not for our immediate energy needs, we prefer to wait

for technology and safety to improve further before

reconsidering our options.”

Mr S Iswaran, 15 Oct 2012


Singapore’s Position and Response

• However, in view of regional development, Singapore needs to strengthen its capabilities in nuclear science andtechnology:

“Singapore needs to continue to monitor the progress of

nuclear energy technologies, and to strengthen our

capabilities to understand nuclear science and

technology. It is also important to track related

developments in areas such as emergency response

and radioactive waste disposal. Then we can assess

the implications of evolving nuclear energy technologies

and regional nuclear energy developments for

Singapore.”Mr S Iswaran, 15 Oct 2012


“We will, therefore, support research in relevant areas of

nuclear science and engineering, and train a pool of scientists

and experts through education programmes in local and

overseas universities. We will also play an active role in global

and regional cooperation on nuclear safety. Singapore

currently participates in several platforms to facilitate

cooperation on nuclear energy and safety. For example, we

are a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) and are working closely with other member countries on

implementing the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear

Safety. Through such platforms, we can foster greater

collaboration to share best practices in nuclear safety,

coordinate emergency planning and response, jointly develop

human resources, and discuss the implications of regional and

global developments.”Mr S Iswaran, 15 Oct 2012


What Singapore will do:

• To develop capabilities in nuclear science and engineering, including training a pool of experts. To monitor developments and prepare for the growth of nuclear energy in the region. One of the main objectives is to protect our people and environment from possible contaminations.

• To participate and contribute actively to global and regional nuclear safety efforts.

• To keep abreast of progress in nuclear energy technologies so as to keep our options open for the future.


NSREP and SNRSI

• In October 2013, NRF secured a five-year budget of $62.9M to develop a Nuclear Safety Research and Education Programme (NSREP). NSREP has also been given in-principle approval for a 15-year implementation period, subject to review before the end of each five-year funding period.

• A Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI) is established as the research arm of NSREP.

• SNRSI will

» Implement the research programmes of NSREP

» Attract, develop, and sustain a thriving community of nuclear science and technology experts.


Initial Focus Areas of SNRSI

• The initial focus areas of research of SNRSI will be

» Radiochemistry

Develop capabilities for reliable detection and accurate measurement of radioactivity; support NEA and other government agencies in establishing baseline levels of radioactivity in our local environment and imported materials before the region goes nuclear.

» Nuclear Safety Analysis

Conduct simulation studies of the processes in NPP to understand the risk and consequences of possible events, and the spread of radioactivity in various incident scenarios.

» Radiobiology

Study the effects of low-dose radiation on human health, to enable us to determine the appropriate levels of protection and courses of action in response to radiological threats. Develop expertise in dosimetry, especially internal dosimetry.


SNRSI as a unit among NUS University-Level RICs

• With the approval of the Senate, SNRSI has been established as a unit among the University-Level RICs of NUS.

• It is envisaged that SNRSI will grow to a strength of about 100 researchers and operational staff, supported by a small admin team.

• NRF has allocated space in CREATE for the initial set up of SNRSI. It is expected that NRF will provide additional funding for a new building to be erected for use as the permanent home for SNRSI as it outgrows the CREATE site.


Initial Activities

• SNRSI, jointly with NRF, has invited applications from all local universities for scholarship to support postgraduate studies in relevant disciplines.

• Funding for renovation of the CREATE site has recently been approved, and renovation work will soon begin with the assistance of OED, OSHE, and CREATE.

• Nine research projects in the areas of radiochemistry, radiobiology, and nuclear safety have been developed by government agencies based on national requirements.

• NUS FOS/FOE have jointly launched a minor programme in Medical Physics, with emphasis on nuclear techniques applied to medicine and radiological protection.


Thank you very much

singapore nuclear research and safety initiative (snrsi) · before reconsidering this option. ......

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