Singapore builds nuclear expertise through UK placements

The agreement with AtkinsRéalis will give public officers practical exposure to the planning of nuclear projects.

Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) has signed a manpower-development agreement with engineering and nuclear-services company AtkinsRéalis to strengthen the country’s nuclear-energy capabilities.

Under the agreement, Singapore public officers involved in energy development may undertake placements of up to one year in the United Kingdom.

Participants will work alongside AtkinsRéalis nuclear specialists and gain practical experience in areas including project planning, governance, regulation, licensing, safety culture and delivery.

Site-based training in active nuclear-project environments is expected to be an important part of the program, supplementing participants’ technical knowledge with experience of how complex projects are implemented.

The agreement forms part of the Singapore Nuclear Manpower Development Programme.

EMA Chief Executive Puah Kok Keong said developing technical expertise and an understanding of project delivery is necessary as Singapore studies whether advanced nuclear technologies could become a future energy option.

He said the placements would allow public officers to learn directly from experienced nuclear professionals and help Singapore develop the expertise needed to assess nuclear energy’s potential role in its future energy mix.

Kelly Trice, executive vice president for global nuclear services at AtkinsRéalis, said nuclear capability extends beyond technical knowledge to governance, regulatory frameworks, safety culture and project-delivery disciplines.