Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxNuclear power is being considered by governments around the world as a potential source of low-emissions energy.PHOTO: PIXABAYAng QingSingapore's Minister Grace Fu visits London and Paris to enhance nuclear safety partnerships and capabilities.Fu will observe the signing of a deal in London between NEA and Britain’s Office of Nuclear Regulation to exchange information and expertise on nuclear safety regulation.In Paris, Fu will meet with senior representatives of France’s nuclear safety authority and radiation protection, and the Western European Regulators Association.AI generatedSINGAPORE - Amid growing regional interest in nuclear energy, Minister of Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will visit London and Paris to meet nuclear regulators, experts and technology providers.Announcing the engagements on June 1, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment said the talks will support Singapore’s efforts to strengthen international partnerships and capabilities in nuclear safety and regulation, as well as nuclear talent development.“While Singapore has not made a decision on the deployment of nuclear energy, it is building the capabilities needed to make a rigorous and independent assessment on the safety of nuclear energy,” said the ministry.Britain and France have tapped nuclear energy for decades, with both nations pledging to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as part of efforts to cut down planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.Nuclear power, which harnesses atomic processes to generate electricity, is being considered by governments around the world as a potential source of low-emissions energy.In May, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will in 2027 embark on an assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency to decide if the country is ready to make an informed decision on deploying nuclear energy.Fu will be accompanied by officials from the ministry and the Republic’s radiation and nuclear safety regulator National Environment Agency (NEA) during her visit from June 1 to June 5.In London, she will observe the signing of a deal between NEA and Britain’s Office of Nuclear Regulation to exchange information and expertise on nuclear safety regulation.At the signing, she will meet representatives from the office to understand their efforts in assessing the safety of new reactor technologies.The minister will also visit power and propulsion firm Rolls-Royce to learn about the safety of its small modular reactor technology, a project to mass-produce nuclear power plants capable of powering about a million homes each.Such technology could be suitable for Singapore, as SMRs are smaller than conventional nuclear power plants and can be installed in dense urban areas.In Paris, Fu, who is also Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, will meet with senior representatives of France’s nuclear safety authority and radiation protection, and the Western European Regulators Association, which comprises the heads of nuclear regulatory bodies from 10 countries.They will exchange views on advancements in nuclear energy technology, developments in safety assessments and regulatory standards and explore collaborations in nuclear safety and capability building, said the ministry.The visit forms part of Singapore’s longstanding efforts to engage partners that have extensive experience in the safe operation and regulation of nuclear plants. These include the US, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.In April, NEA signed an agreement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop regulatory skills, and its fourth framework with the UN atomic watchdog to enhance capabilities.Nuclear energyEnergyFranceLondonGrace Fu