Singapore and the US conclude cooperation agreements on nuclear energy capability building

27 November 2025

On 27 October 2025, the Energy Market Authority (“EMA”) announced the signing of two cooperation agreements with organisations from the US to strengthen its capabilities in studying the feasibility of deploying nuclear energy for power generation in Singapore (“Agreements”). The Agreements comprise a Memorandum of Understanding with Battelle Memorial Institute on Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Capability Building, Research and Development (“MOU”), and a Letter of Intent on collaboration between Idaho National Laboratory and EMA (“LOI”).

Together, these agreements establish complementary avenues of collaboration, each focusing on different aspects of nuclear energy research and capability building.

The MOU between EMA and the Battelle Memorial Institute (“Battelle”) provides a framework for cooperation between both parties to study various aspects of nuclear energy and advanced reactor technologies, leveraging Battelle’s networks and expertise.

Battelle is an independent, non-profit applied science and technology organisation that applies advanced science, technology, and engineering to solve complex challenges, including innovation in the field of nuclear energy.

The LOI between EMA and Idaho National Laboratory (“INL”) provides for the parties to work towards establishing a formal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to collaborate on studies, technical assessment, and capability building in advanced nuclear energy technologies.

INL is the US’ nuclear energy laboratory for advanced nuclear energy, with extensive facilities for research and testing of nuclear fuels and materials. INL runs initiatives that equip the global nuclear community to commercialise innovations such as advanced fuels and reactors.

The Agreements build on previous agreements concluded by the countries, namely, the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy signed in July 2024 and the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation signed in January 2025.

The US Department of Energy has approved the addition of Singapore to the Part 810 list of Generally Authorised Destinations for exports of controlled nuclear technology and assistance. This move paves the way for the US and Singapore to further strengthen peaceful nuclear energy cooperation and allows for more exchanges of technical knowledge, ideas on nuclear energy, and nuclear technologies with the various parties that EMA works with in the US. Singapore will also continue to collaborate with the US on other nuclear-related initiatives, such as the Singapore-US Forum at the Singapore International Energy Week, the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology programme, and the National Environment Agency’s Information Exchange Arrangement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety matters.

Reference materials

The press release is available on the EMA website www.ema.gov.sg.