Banzai Banzai Banzai...SG will be Greater Again with Murika Nuclear Power

[k1976]

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...epen-understanding-of-nuclear-reactors-safety

Singapore signs agreement with US to deepen understanding of nuclear reactors, safety​

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (right) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shaking hands after the signing of the 123 Agreement on July 31. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Cheryl Tan and Shabana Begum
Updated

Jul 31, 2024, 06:53 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE – Singapore and the United States on July 31 inked a 30-year agreement that will allow the Republic to learn more about the latest nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations.

The move will help Singapore make a more informed decision on nuclear power as a clean energy source, said the authorities, who stressed that no decision has been made on deploying nuclear energy.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan signed the 123 Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Singapore from July 30 to July 31 as part of a 11-day visit to South-east Asia.

 

[k1976]

Current conventional nuclear technologies are not suitable for Singapore. But given advances in civil nuclear technology, we need to stay abreast of breakthroughs in this rapidly evolving field,” said Dr Balakrishnan during the signing.

“The Agreement facilitates access to information, technological expertise, and allows us to deepen our engagements with civil nuclear experts in the US,” he added.

The US has 24 such agreements in force that govern peaceful nuclear cooperation with countries or entities. They are allowed to receive “significant transfers of nuclear material or equipment” from the US.

 

[k1976]

US firms are generally not authorised to export equipment and materials without a bilateral agreement in force, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, a trade association based in the United States

In a fact sheet issued to the media on July 31, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said that any decision to deploy nuclear energy in Singapore will require “detailed studies of the safety, reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability of nuclear energy in our local context”.

 

[k1976]

Small modular reactors​

Both ministries said Singapore will be joining the US Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (First) programme, which supports partners to better understand small modular reactors or other newer advanced nuclear energy technologies.

Small modular reactors are thought to be more suitable for land-scarce, population-dense Singapore as these reactors have a lower power capacity, enhanced safety standards and require much smaller buffer zones compared to conventional reactors. Such reactors have a generation capacity about one-third of traditional reactors.

 

[k1976]

Under the First programme, Singapore will gain access to a network of US entities involved in nuclear energy, including the US National Laboratories and countries developing newer nuclear energy technologies, to facilitate its capability building process.

This will support Singapore’s efforts to understand and evaluate advanced nuclear energy technologies, should viable options emerge.

“This agreement builds on the long-standing civil nuclear collaboration between United States and Singapore and outlines a comprehensive framework to deepen peaceful nuclear cooperation based on a mutual commitment to nuclear non-proliferation,” said both governments in a joint statement on the signing of the US-Singapore 123 Agreement.

 

[k1976]

International collaborations​

Singapore’s agreement with the US builds on the Republic’s existing efforts in international collaboration to develop its domestic capability in nuclear safety. For example, existing collaborations have been in place with France, which has deep expertise in nuclear safety.

“Singapore is open to considering collaborations with countries that can support our capability building in nuclear science and safety,” said MSE and MTI.

Singapore has also been a member state of the IAEA since 1967, where it leverages their expertise for its capability building.

Singapore is already taking nuclear safety research to the next level, with a new multi-million dollar building for the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, ST previously reported.

The research building, which is at the National University of Singapore (NUS), has a target of having 100 nuclear safety experts in the longer term.

 

[k1976]

• The SMRs are advanced reactors with a lower power capacity that can be factory-assembled and scaled up like Lego bricks. The power capacity of one SMR is about a third of traditional reactors, at about 300MW.
• With their smaller footprint, SMRs can be set up in dense places not suitable for larger nuclear power plants.
• SMRs also harness fission energy, but they don’t require human intervention to shut down because they rely on natural forces such as circulation, convection and gravity. These increased safety elements significantly lower the risk of unsafe radioactive leaks.
• Most SMRs worldwide are still being developed.

 

[k1976]

.
.

• The Sun, like all stars, is powered by nuclear fusion.
• Fusion occurs when two hydrogen isotopes collide, releasing massive amounts of energy – four times more than fission – with 1kg of fuel.
• To reproduce the Sun’s power on Earth, a temperature of over 100 million deg C is needed, with the help of strong magnetic fields in a doughnut-shaped chamber.
• Fusion reactors are not expected to produce long-lived nuclear waste. And as the fusion process is difficult to start and maintain, there is no risk of a runaway reaction and meltdown.
• While experimental reactors are being built, there is a long way to go before a commercial plant is up. Experts said the earliest we could expect to see one could be in the 2040s.

 

[k1976]

Nuclear fusion prototype will be 'UK's Nasa moment'​

Image source,UK Atomic Energy Authority
Image caption,It is hoped Nottinghamshire might win a global race to prove the technology can provide clean energyArticle information

• Author,Jamie Waller
• Role,Local Democracy Reporting Service
• 25 July 2024

A nuclear fusion energy plant being built in Nottinghamshire has been described as the "UK's Nasa moment" as it races to become the first of its type in the world.

The experimental work, based at the decommissioned West Burton A power station near Retford, is aimed at creating a new energy source.

The project, called Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), was showcased at a launch event on Tuesday in Gainsborough, just over the border in Lincolnshire.

Nuclear fusion recreates the same process that powers the sun and if plans are approved, backers said the project was expected to be constructed by 2040.

 

[k1976]

Singapore

CNA Explains: What Singapore’s ‘123 Agreement’ with the US means for its exploration of nuclear energy​

BookmarkShare

Advertisement​

Singapore

CNA Explains: What Singapore’s ‘123 Agreement’ with the US means for its exploration of nuclear energy​

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan signed the civil nuclear cooperation agreement during Blinken’s official visit to Singapore.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attend the signing ceremony for a 123 Agreement between the US and Singapore at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jul 31, 2024. (Photo:…see more

Listen to this article
6 min
This audio is generated by an AI tool.


Abigail Ng
31 Jul 2024 07:47PM (Updated: 31 Jul 2024 07:55PM)
BookmarkShare

SINGAPORE: Singapore still has not decided whether to deploy nuclear energy in the country, but signed an agreement with the United States as it continues to study ways to decarbonise its power sector.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken inked the civil nuclear cooperation agreement on Wednesday (Jul 31) during an official visit by Blinken to Singapore.
ADVERTISEMENT

Also known as a “123 Agreement”, it will need to be reviewed by the US Congress before it comes into force. The agreement will last for 30 years once it kicks in.

What is a 123 Agreement, and why is it important?​

When the US wants to conduct a significant nuclear export, the importing country must first sign an agreement stating that it will prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
That is specified under Section 123 of the US’ Atomic Energy Act, which is how the agreements got their nickname.

At the signing ceremony, Dr Balakrishnan said the agreement facilitates access to information and technological expertise, and allows Singapore to engage more with civil nuclear experts in the US.

The agreement outlines a way to deepen peaceful nuclear cooperation between the US and Singapore based on a mutual commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, according to a joint statement by the US and Singapore governments.

 

[k1976]

Singapore can also get involved in other capacity-building initiatives such as the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme.

The two countries intend to better understand how advanced nuclear energy technologies – including small modular reactors – can potentially support climate goals while balancing critical energy needs.

“This will support Singapore’s efforts to understand and evaluate advanced nuclear energy technologies, should viable options emerge,” the statement said.

 

[k1976]

What are the concerns regarding 123 Agreements?​

123 Agreements have faced opposition in countries such as India and South Korea.

Critics said India openly defied the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the 123 deal with India violated the “spirit if not the letter” of the NPT, the late American sociologist Amitai Etzioni wrote in 2015.

The agreement also appeared to intensify the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan.

Within India, there were concerns over threats to sovereignty and the possibility of the US having leverage over India.

In 2014, when a new agreement was being negotiated between the US and South Korea, the sticking point was uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, according to an article by Duyeon Kim published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The nuclear establishment in South Korea believed that capabilities in that area were critical for the country’s future as a consumer and exporter of nuclear energy, she wrote. But the US opposed it because the technology can be used to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons.

More recently, there have been concerns raised about a possible 123 Agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom wants the deal to include the construction of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia by the US. But some in the US are concerned that it would lead to Saudi Arabia gaining nuclear weapons capabilities and an arms race in the Middle East.

 

[k1976]

Subscribe from S$9.90/month

Singapore inks 30-year nuclear deal with the US to study advanced reactors​

The city-state has not made a decision to adopt nuclear energy, but is exploring possibilities

Sharanya Pillai​

Published Wed, Jul 31, 2024 · 02:00 PM
Nuclear

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
  
  
• 
  

• The agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
• The agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
• The agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
• The agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
• The agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

SINGAPORE has inked a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation deal with the US – a move that will give the city-state access to the superpower’s nuclear expertise and technical information that is under export control.
This comes as Singapore explores the possibility of tapping advanced nuclear technologies for clean and reliable energy – including a new innovation called small modular reactors (SMRs).
The deal, known as the 123 Agreement, was signed by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (Jul 31), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ premises.

The agreement allows Singapore to deepen its civil nuclear cooperation with the US “in a way that’s consistent with the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation”, said Dr Balakrishnan.
“Given the advances in civil nuclear technologies, Singapore needs to stay abreast of any breakthroughs that occur,” he added.
Blinken noted that both Singapore and the US have “ambitious” climate targets, and have been working together on the clean energy transition, such as through efforts to decarbonise shipping.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU​

Friday, 12.30 pm

ESG Insights​

An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues.
Sign Up


ADVERTISING

“As Singapore decides whether to adopt civil nuclear energy, the 123 Agreement creates possibility; it creates a framework to develop safe, secure, modern civil nuclear power,” he said, adding that SMRs could increasingly be “at the forefront of nuclear power in the years ahead”.
Blinken is in Singapore for an official visit, as part of a six-country tour of Asia that includes Laos, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The 123-Agreement is expected to come into force by the end of this year after a review by the US Congress, and will last for 30 years.
SEE ALSO

Nuclear power debate heats up in South-east Asia

Singapore could star in the race towards nuclear fusion energy

Vital for Singapore to build knowledge on nuclear power, safety: DPM Wong

More

Singapore will also join a US Department of State programme that helps countries build advanced nuclear capabilities safely, known as the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (First) programme.
This will give Singapore access to the network of US entities involved in civilian nuclear energy, including the US National Laboratories.
Under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, a nuclear cooperation agreement is required for the US to make significant transfers of nuclear material or equipment to other countries.
The US already has 24 active 123 Agreements as at July, including with the Philippines – which signed the deal last year – Indonesia and Vietnam. Other Asian signatories of the deal include China, India, Japan and South Korea.

 

[KingFook Sr]

This agreement is for education on nuclear energy.
Sinkieland should never be locked into any binding alliance with the USA, a declining power.
Staying neutral is the way to go.

 

[mojito]

Pap want to park us nukes here don't be surprise and regret if ur kid grow a third testicle!

 

[syed putra]

All industries want zero carbon emissions energy. Only way to get this in sinkie is to import, which is impossible due to inadequate grid infrastructure in neighbouring countries, or build a nuclear power plant.

 

[eatshitndie]

can install micro reactor in jurong? to counter knocking, firecracker, whistling, and some say puck puck sounds?

 

[congo9]

Tiong will send their spies

 

[nabeifuckpap]

Siao lang Biden, just wait for Trump will tear up this rubbish agreement

 

[Loofydralb]

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...epen-understanding-of-nuclear-reactors-safety

Singapore signs agreement with US to deepen understanding of nuclear reactors, safety​

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (right) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shaking hands after the signing of the 123 Agreement on July 31. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Cheryl Tan and Shabana Begum
Updated

Jul 31, 2024, 06:53 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE – Singapore and the United States on July 31 inked a 30-year agreement that will allow the Republic to learn more about the latest nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations.

The move will help Singapore make a more informed decision on nuclear power as a clean energy source, said the authorities, who stressed that no decision has been made on deploying nuclear energy.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan signed the 123 Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Singapore from July 30 to July 31 as part of a 11-day visit to South-east Asia.

Let's see who can sniff out the lie in the above statement.