Singapore’s Nuclear Pivot: Why SMR Studies Could Transform Singapore Small Modular Reactor Plans for 2050

Singapore has spent about fifteen years publicly describing nuclear energy as something it is “studying,” but several developments between November 2024 and March 2026 point to a more structured trajectory. On 15 March 2026, Dr Tan See Leng said Singapore was “seriously studying” small modular reactors at an energy security forum in Tokyo, and a bilateral agreement with Japan signed the same day explicitly included civil nuclear cooperation. Singapore has also signed civil nuclear cooperation agreements with the United States and South Korea, adding to a pattern of formal frameworks that go beyond general research interest. At the same time, Singapore’s energy narrative still emphasises natural gas powering the grid, solar scaling up, and regional electricity imports being developed, with nuclear assessed cautiously.

The most specific step in recent cooperation is the memorandum of understanding between the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), exchanged on 2 March 2026 during South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit. Under the agreement, KHNP and EMA will jointly assess feasibility for deploying SMRs in Singapore, exchange technical information and regulatory best practices, and cooperate on training nuclear professionals, with KHNP participating in EMA-led studies evaluating suitable SMR designs. Eco-Business described this as the first nuclear energy-related MOU between a South Korean nuclear operator and a Singapore government agency. In parallel, EMA appointed UK-headquartered engineering firm Mott MacDonald to study safety and technical feasibility of advanced nuclear technologies, evaluating factors such as safety features, technology maturity, and commercial readiness.

What the SMR Studies Could Mean for a 2050 Energy Mix

One locally cited estimate anchors why these studies matter. World Nuclear News reported that an EMA report released in March 2022 concluded nuclear energy could supply around 10% of Singapore’s energy needs, helping its power sector achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. That framing positions nuclear not as a dominant source, but as a potential “switch” in a diversified mix that also includes solar, regional power imports, and low-carbon hydrogen. It also clarifies why Singapore’s SMR-focused approach is central: Eco-Business noted SMRs are designed to generate up to about 300 MW per unit, roughly one-third the capacity of conventional large reactors, and their modular construction is intended to reduce construction time and costs, which can matter for countries with land constraints or smaller grids.

Singapore’s official messaging also highlights why SMRs are being assessed rather than assumed. EMA’s feature on advanced nuclear energy technologies states the fundamental safety principle behind SMRs is that their smaller size could mean they contain less radioactive material, potentially making it easier to manage safety and control during an emergency, while also noting most projects globally are still at an early stage of development. The government is building enabling capabilities alongside technical work. The Online Citizen reported that by November 2024, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng confirmed Singapore had signed the 123 Agreement with the United States and that the government was building a talent pool of approximately 100 nuclear energy experts.

These moves sit in a broader context where SMRs are being discussed globally across industrial loads and digital infrastructure, offering a lens for how Singapore might think about firm low-carbon supply. A LucidCatalyst study cited by World Nuclear News estimated that, in North America and Europe, the SMR market could reach 700 GW by 2050 for industrial decarbonisation across 11 sectors, and that SMRs could supply up to about 15,000 TWh or 2,200 GW of demand for the industries considered. Separately, a data-centre-focused source pointed to corporate interest, including a Google contract with Kairos Power for 500 MW of SMR energy, with first plants expected to be up and running by 2030. For Singapore, the immediate story remains about studies, partnerships, and institutional readiness—but those are exactly the building blocks that can shape Singapore small modular reactor plans for 2050.