Parliamentary Question

Ms Ellen Lee: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry whether the Government has plans to study the feasibility of liquid thorium reactors to reduce our current dependence on oil.

Written Answer

1.             Singapore has embarked on a nuclear energy pre-feasibility study (Pre-FS), which is a preliminary step to better understand the complex field of nuclear energy.  Even after the completion of the Pre-FS, many more steps will need to be taken before we can make any decisions on nuclear energy for Singapore.  It is therefore too early to conduct detailed studies on the feasibility of specific reactor technologies, such as liquid fluoride thorium reactors.  To strengthen our energy security, Singapore is building a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal that will commence operations in the second quarter of 2013, and is also studying the feasibility of electricity import.