Singapore and China establish nuclear capability-building partnership

Singapore and China have formalized a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement aimed at building the island city-state's capacity to evaluate advanced reactor technologies. The memorandum of understanding, signed on 17 August, establishes a framework for capability development across safety assessment, technical evaluation, workforce training, and regulatory infrastructure.

The partnership addresses Singapore's strategic objective to develop independent capabilities for assessing nuclear energy deployment options. Under the agreement, cooperation will focus on safety and technical assessments of reactor technologies, manpower training and scientific exchanges, public education and communications, nuclear safety and safeguards protocols, and applications of nuclear technology.

Assessment framework and technology evaluation

Singapore's Energy Market Authority has commissioned engineering firm Mott MacDonald to conduct a comprehensive study on the safety and technical feasibility of advanced nuclear energy technologies. The assessment will evaluate small modular reactors and other advanced designs based on safety performance, technology maturity, and commercial readiness.

This evaluation effort follows a 2022 EMA report concluding that nuclear energy could supply approximately 10 percent of Singapore's electricity demand while supporting the nation's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong indicated in February 2025 that the government would systematically build capabilities to assess whether nuclear deployment represents a safe and cost-effective solution for Singapore's energy needs.

Broader international engagement

The China partnership complements Singapore's concurrent nuclear cooperation discussions with other international partners, including the United States, France, and South Korea. This multi-partner approach reflects Singapore's strategy to develop objective technical assessment capabilities independent of any single supplier or technology provider.

The capability-building framework established with China encompasses both technical and institutional dimensions, positioning Singapore to make informed decisions about potential nuclear energy deployment while developing domestic expertise in reactor safety assessment and regulatory oversight.

First American Nuclear advances HALEU fuel facility regulatory pathway

First American Nuclear Co notified the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 6 August of its intent to apply for a licence to operate a Category II high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel fabrication facility. The facility will fabricate uranium oxide fuel and process it into alternative fuel forms, supporting the company's EAGL-1 lead-bismuth-cooled fast reactor and other advanced reactor developers.

The regulatory engagement plan outlines the path toward a licence application under 10 CFR Part 70. The facility will process HALEU uranium oxide pellets enriched to less than 20 percent uranium-235. First American Nuclear acquired the underlying technology portfolio from Columbia Basin Consulting Group, a nuclear engineering firm, and has advanced the design through support from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory via Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear awards and a Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program grant.

The fuel facility will support EAGL-1, a 240 MWe lead-bismuth-cooled fast-spectrum small modular reactor designed for factory fabrication and scalable deployment
First American Nuclear is finalising contracts with primary engineering and design contractors for the facility
The company partnered with AtkinsRéalis as the exclusive engineering, procurement, and construction management provider for EAGL-1 projects in North America, including integrated reactor, fuel fabrication, and recycling facilities

Regulatory strategy and team experience

The regulatory engagement plan provides a structured framework for early technical dialogue with the NRC before the formal licence application. First American Nuclear's leadership and senior engineering team bring direct operational experience from major US fast reactor programmes, including the Fast Flux Test Facility, Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, Versatile Test Reactor, Advanced Burner Reactor, and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.

The technology foundation draws from US advanced liquid-metal fast reactor programmes, International Atomic Energy Agency data, and various US sources. First American Nuclear CEO Mike Reinboth emphasised that deploying advanced nuclear energy at scale requires both innovative reactor technology and a secure, capable American fuel supply. Executive Vice President Michelle Catts noted that the submission reflects the company's disciplined licensing approach and the quality of technical work across its fuel programme.

Supply chain implications

The facility represents a step toward establishing domestic HALEU fuel production capacity for the emerging advanced reactor sector. By integrating fuel fabrication and recycling with reactor development, First American Nuclear aims to create a vertically aligned fuel-cycle platform. The regulatory engagement approach signals the company's commitment to building regulatory confidence early in the development process, potentially establishing a model for other advanced reactor fuel supply initiatives.

American Nuclear Society to host webinar on measurement uncertainty and data validation advances

The American Nuclear Society will host a free Supplier Showcase webinar titled "Advancing DVR for MUR: Lessons from First-of-a-Kind Projects" on August 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT. The session will explore recent advancements in data validation and reconciliation (DVR) technology and their application to measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) initiatives at nuclear facilities.

Data validation and reconciliation techniques have emerged as a key tool for nuclear operators seeking to optimize plant performance. By improving the accuracy of core thermal power measurements, these methods reduce the conservatism inherent in traditional measurement uncertainty calculations. This reduction in uncertainty can unlock additional operating margin, enabling measurement uncertainty recapture uprates that increase reactor output without requiring physical modifications to plant systems.

The webinar will examine lessons learned from first-of-a-kind DVR and MUR projects, providing supply-chain professionals and plant operators with practical insights into implementation strategies and performance outcomes. Registration is required to attend, and the session is open to all interested participants at no cost.

Webinar date and time: August 18, 1:00–2:00 p.m. CDT
Topic: Data validation and reconciliation advancements for measurement uncertainty reduction
Format: Free, registration required
Focus: First-of-a-kind project case studies and lessons learned