Singapore
plans to develop local pool of nuclear experts: National Research
Foundation
SINGAPORE: There are no current plans to build nuclear power
plants in Singapore, but the country intends to develop its own
pool of local nuclear experts in the next five years, the National
Research Foundation (NRF) said.
One of the roles of the nuclear experts is to protect
Singaporeans from radiation, NRF said, adding that its scientists
are undergoing training to manage nuclear safety in the
country.
For example, if there is a nuclear incident in the region, the
experts will be able to tell if or when radiation will hit
Singapore by studying the wind directions, wind speeds, and
calculating the amount of radiation in the air. This would help
authorities roll out precautionary measures.
Another key area of focus for NRF is nuclear forensics, where
experts detect and trace radioactive materials that could be used
to make bombs, it said. The Foundation added that experts would
also be able to look out for radiation contamination in the
nation's waters and in food imports.
DIFFICULTIES ATTRACTING EXPERTS TO "NICHE"
AREA
Despite the crucial nature of
the work of nuclear experts, NRF Director of the Energy and
Environment Research Directorate Dr Yeoh Lean Weng said there were
difficulties in attracting talent to the very "niche"
area.
"Students may think that the career path is still very limited,"
he said.
The Foundation started a programme two years ago to train 100
nuclear experts in the next decade, or 10 experts a year. However,
it has fallen short of this target so far, with only nine experts
selected in the last two years.
"The fact is that we only have one research institute to build
capabilities. There's no nuclear power plant, there's no nuclear
industry," said Dr Yeoh.
To attract more talent, the NRF plans to broaden career paths
for nuclear scientists and boost scholarships, it said.
REGIONAL PUSH TOWARDS NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
Associate Chair of Research at
Nanyang Technological University's School of Materials Science and
Engineering Professor Timothy White said ASEAN will be gradually
increasing its involvement in nuclear technology - countries like
Indonesia and Vietnam have said they are planning to build nuclear
power plants.
"We are in a neighbourhood where this is going to happen so we
need to understand what nuclear (technology) is all about, if we
are going to develop the correct responses and appreciation of what
is happening with our neighbours."
Prof White said it was not likely for Singapore to follow in its
neighbours' footsteps in developing nuclear power facilities in the
near future.
"The nuclear plant requires such a high level of capability to
run. We are such a small country," he explained.
However, experts told Channel NewsAsia it was possible that
ASEAN nations would come together to pool resources, in order to
build a power plant in the region. This would mean the expertise,
costs and benefits of a nuclear power plant could be shared among
member countries.
The plant could be situated in a country with large land areas
located away from residential zones, with the power generated
supplied to member nations through an electrical grid.
Dr Yeoh said the biggest challenge to this was in member
countries having the political will to carry out the
project.
In addition, countries like Singapore will be concerned about
security and supply, he said.
"We are concerned about security and supply from pipe gas, so we
will have the same issues in getting nuclear energy from another
country because it's beyond our sovereign borders."
- CNA/mz