Day 5 30 October 2026

On the final day of SIEW 2026, industry leaders gathered at SIEW Thinktank Roundtable D and Spotlight Korea Forum to explore the role of nuclear energy and international partnerships in shaping more resilient, low-carbon energy systems.

SIEW Thinktank Roundtable E featured a lively discussion of the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and data centres on the connected energy systems of tomorrow.

With that, we have come to the end of SIEW 2026! As this year’s edition draws to a close, we would like to thank our partners, sponsors, supporting organisations, and delegates for a successful staging of SIEW 2026. We’ll be bringing more highlights and key moments from SIEW 2026 in the weeks ahead.

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Advancing small modular reactors (SMRs) towards commercial deployment will require more than technological innovation. Manufacturing capabilities, reliable supply chains, regulatory coordination and viable commercial models will be equally important.

Spotlight Korea Forum Session 2 featured a panel discussion examining the capabilities needed to support SMR deployment and opportunities for Singapore's industrial sector. The discussion was moderated by Dr Jonathan Cobb, Senior Programme Lead, Climate, World Nuclear Association (WNA).

• Nuclear energy could create broader industrial opportunities: Chia Meng Hwee, Director, Nuclear Development Department, Energy Market Authority of Singapore, highlighted the potential applications of nuclear energy beyond electricity generation, including industrial heat and desalination. He also noted that Singaporean companies could participate in international nuclear supply chains through equipment supply, maintenance and supporting services, even without domestic nuclear deployment.
• Manufacturing and logistics are critical to SMR deployment: Tark Kyoung-yool, Director, Doosan Enerbility, identified reactor vessel manufacturing as a potential bottleneck for innovative SMRs (i-SMRs). Integrating multiple components into a single module introduces transportation challenges, particularly for inland sites, although modular construction could reduce on-site installation, inspection and testing requirements.
• Commercial readiness depends on more than technological maturity: Kim Nam-gil, Director, Market Research Division, Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA), outlined four milestones for SMR commercialisation: technological and regulatory maturity, viable first-of-a-kind projects, qualified supply chains, and repeatable, bankable commercial models supported by credible customer demand.
• Regulatory coordination and commercial structures are essential to investment: Priyank Srivastava, Energy Lawyer, Corporate and Energy Practices, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, highlighted the potential for SMRs to support hydrogen production, industrial heat and steam. He emphasised the importance of cross-border regulatory coordination, appropriate offtake agreements and sustainable revenue models in supporting commercially viable projects.

The discussion underscored that translating SMR technology into commercially viable projects will depend on developing industrial, regulatory and financial capabilities alongside reactor innovation. For Singapore, international nuclear supply chains could also offer opportunities to build relevant expertise and industrial capabilities, regardless of future domestic deployment decisions.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

Advancing small modular reactor (SMR) adoption requires more than technological innovation. Countries must also develop the regulatory frameworks, infrastructure and technical capabilities needed for safe deployment.

At the Spotlight Korea Forum during SIEW 2026, Park So-hyun, Senior Manager, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), shared Korea's nuclear development experience and progress on its innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR) programme.

Korea's experience underscores the importance of advancing reactor technology alongside the institutional foundations needed to support future SMR deployment. Ms Park also added that nuclear adoption requires sustained government commitment, regulatory development and technical expertise.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

By Derek Chua

Preparing for small modular reactor (SMR) adoption requires more than technological readiness. Countries must also develop regulatory capabilities, financing frameworks, skilled workforces and public trust.

At the Spotlight Korea Forum, industry experts drew on Korea's nuclear experience to discuss practical steps for countries exploring nuclear energy. The session was moderated by Dr Jonathan Cobb, Senior Programme Lead, Climate, World Nuclear Association. Key takeaways included:

• Regulations, supply chains and market demand must advance together: Dr Rian Bahran, Chief Nuclear Officer, Antares, identified regulatory capacity, supply chain development, including workforce capabilities, and a credible order book as three priorities for SMR readiness. He emphasised that governments, industry and potential customers must work in parallel to establish clear deployment pathways and build supplier confidence.
• Predictable project delivery is critical to financing: Lee Kwang-kook, General Manager, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), drew on Korea's experience with the Barakah nuclear project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He highlighted how construction delays and regulatory uncertainty can affect project bankability, underscoring the importance of clear regulatory pathways, revenue models and risk-sharing arrangements.
• Public trust and financial readiness require early attention: Sharmila Juggesur, Strategic Growth Director, Global Services, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis, noted that higher project risks increase financing costs, making government support particularly important for first-of-a-kind projects. She also emphasised transparent public engagement on nuclear safety, radioactive waste, decommissioning and the role of nuclear energy in supporting energy security and decarbonisation.
• Workforce development must begin before nuclear deployment decisions: Choi Jin-soo, General Manager, KHNP CRI, highlighted the importance of building local expertise in nuclear policy, regulation and project management. Drawing on the UAE's experience, he stressed that classroom education, practical experience at operating plants and simulator training should form part of a long-term capability development programme.

The discussion highlighted the importance of building institutional, technical and human capabilities early, enabling countries to make informed decisions about the potential role of nuclear in their future energy systems.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

As Singapore studies nuclear energy as a potential future power source, strengthening technical capabilities, regulatory frameworks and international partnerships will be essential to making informed decisions.

At the Spotlight Korea Forum, co-organised with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), speakers from Singapore and Korea discussed how both countries can deepen cooperation on nuclear readiness, small modular reactors (SMRs) and capability development.

• Preparing for an informed nuclear decision: Eugene Toh, Assistant Chief Executive, Energy Technologies Division, Energy Market Authority (EMA), shared that Singapore has begun Phase 1 of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review process, covering 19 areas of nuclear infrastructure development. He emphasised that nuclear readiness requires sustained capability building and strong international partnerships, including translating existing memoranda of understanding with Korean partners into practical cooperation.
• Drawing on Korea's nuclear experience: H.E. Kim Jun-min, Acting Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore, highlighted Korea's five decades of experience in nuclear energy, spanning reactor design, manufacturing, construction and operations. He noted that Korea's expertise could support Singapore's nuclear readiness efforts, with safety, quality and trust forming the foundation of long-term cooperation.
• Assessing technology suitability and national readiness: Lim Seung-yeol, Senior Vice President, KHNP, outlined three priorities for Singapore's consideration of SMRs: technological suitability, national readiness and full-lifecycle collaboration. He highlighted the potential advantages of compact reactor designs and passive safety systems, while emphasising the importance of regulatory frameworks, workforce development, supply chains and public acceptance.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

By Derek Chua

Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening new opportunities to improve grid reliability, optimise energy assets and manage increasingly complex power systems. However, its effective deployment will depend on reliable data, human oversight and clear operational safeguards.

SIEW Thinktank Roundtable E Session 1 brought together industry experts to examine practical AI applications, from predictive maintenance and renewable energy forecasting to battery optimisation and real-time grid management. Moderated by Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC, ASEAN Centre for Energy, the discussion explored how AI can support rising electricity demand while strengthening system reliability and resilience.

Explore more from SIEW Thinktank Roundtable E Session 1

As artificial intelligence (AI) drives rapid growth in data-centre electricity demand, energy systems must expand capacity while managing increasingly uncertain consumption patterns.

SIEW Thinktank Roundtable E, co-hosted with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), examined how forward-looking infrastructure planning, smarter grid operations and regional cooperation can help power the AI economy.

Key highlights from the opening included:

• Preparing energy infrastructure for AI-driven demand: Puah Kok Keong, Chief Executive, Energy Market Authority (EMA), highlighted that data centres are projected to account for one-fifth of ASEAN's electricity demand growth between 2025 and 2030. With grid constraints potentially delaying around 20 percent of planned global data centre capacity by 2030, Mr Puah emphasised the need to invest ahead of demand. He cited Singapore's newly announced five-year energy infrastructure plan to significantly expand power generation, natural gas and electricity grid capacity.
• Integrating data centres into the wider energy system: H.E. Sakari Puisto, Minister of Economic Affairs, Republic of Finland, shared Finland's approach to managing data-centre growth through strategic siting, sufficient power capacity and waste-heat recovery. He cited a supercomputing facility in Kajaani powered by hydropower, where waste heat is reused for district heating. He emphasised that new data centres should be planned around both the availability of electricity and opportunities to utilise their waste heat.
• Planning for uncertain electricity demand: Dato Razib Dawood, Executive Director, ACE, presented findings from 25 scenarios examining potential data-centre electricity consumption across ASEAN. He highlighted the difficulty of translating announced data-centre capacity into reliable demand forecasts, particularly as AI workloads and electricity consumption patterns evolve. To improve preparedness, he outlined four priorities: stronger energy-efficiency standards, standardised reporting, integrated planning across energy, water and land, and greater regional cooperation.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

Preparing for nuclear energy deployment requires more than technological advancement. Countries must also develop the regulatory expertise, safety frameworks, secure fuel supply chains and financing mechanisms needed to support long-term nuclear programmes.

At SIEW Thinktank Roundtable D Session 2, experts from Singapore, Finland, France, the UK and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) discussed the practical foundations of nuclear readiness. Moderated by Tom Cross, APNA Technical Director Nuclear, Mott MacDonald, the panel session examined how institutional preparedness, international cooperation and early planning can support informed decisions on nuclear energy.

• Building institutional and technical capabilities: Low Xin Wei, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, highlighted the importance of developing independent technical expertise and strengthening coordination among national institutions well before any potential nuclear deployment. Drawing on Finland's experience, Jani Halinen, Vice President, Nuclear Energy, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, similarly emphasised the need for domestic capabilities in regulation, technical assessments and emergency preparedness, supported by international partnerships and long-term policy continuity.
• Strengthening nuclear safety through research and cooperation: Olivier Marchand, Deputy Director, Nuclear Safety Research, French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), stressed that the potential safety benefits of advanced nuclear technologies must be scientifically demonstrated. He highlighted the importance of sustained research, experimental capabilities and validated simulation tools, alongside joint research initiatives between French and Singapore institutions.
• Securing long-term nuclear fuel supplies: Joseph Priestley, Head of UK Government Affairs, Urenco, identified uranium conversion capacity as a key supply-chain bottleneck, alongside potential constraints in uranium mining. With nuclear fuel contracts often spanning 10 to 15 years, he emphasised early supplier engagement, long-term demand visibility and policy certainty to encourage investment in fuel supply capacity.
• Managing financial risks to enable investment: Timothy Histed, Acting Head of East Asia Pacific, MIGA, outlined the World Bank Group's renewed engagement with nuclear financing, including potential advisory support, institutional capacity-building and selective investment guarantees. He highlighted the importance of assessing countries' financial capacity, regulatory institutions and grid readiness, while Mr Halinen added that effective risk allocation and greater policy certainty are essential to improving project viability.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

As Asia seeks to meet rising electricity demand while advancing decarbonisation, nuclear energy could play a growing role in providing reliable, low-carbon power and industrial heat. However, realising the potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will require stronger regulatory frameworks, industry collaboration and commercially viable deployment models.

At the SIEW Thinktank Roundtable session, A Resilient and Low-Carbon Asia: The Role of Nuclear Power, industry leaders explored the opportunities and challenges of scaling nuclear energy across the region. The discussion was moderated by Ang Qing, Journalist (Environment and Science), The Straits Times.

• Scaling SMRs requires more than technological readiness: Miriam D’Onofrio, Senior Director, International Market Development and Policy, X-energy, highlighted the importance of building customer confidence and securing early project partners. She noted that moving from established reactor technologies to first-of-a-kind commercial projects requires collaboration and shared risk.
• Affordability depends on repeatable deployment: Patrick Looney, Senior Vice President, Advanced Nuclear Market Development, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, emphasised that standardisation and fleet deployment could help reduce SMR costs. He also called for fair comparisons between nuclear and other energy sources that account for reliability, energy security and decarbonisation.
• Nuclear energy can support industrial decarbonisation: Guillaume Tremblay, Director of Business Development & Government Affairs, OTRERA, highlighted nuclear's potential to provide low-carbon industrial process heat alongside electricity generation. He also stressed the importance of fuel supply readiness, project delivery and public understanding of nuclear safety.
• Long-term nuclear ambition must translate into action: Dr Jonathan Cobb, Senior Programme Lead, Climate, World Nuclear Association (WNA), noted that expanding nuclear capacity will require countries to move beyond policy commitments towards credible project pipelines, regulatory preparedness and supply-chain development. He emphasised that coordinated action across governments, regulators, financiers and industry will be essential.

The discussion underscored that while SMRs offer potential to strengthen Asia's energy resilience and complement renewable energy, their wider deployment will depend on demonstrating commercial viability, maintaining rigorous safety standards and building the institutional capabilities needed for long-term implementation.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

As Asia considers nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand while advancing decarbonisation, developing the necessary capabilities, regulatory frameworks and institutional foundations will be critical.

Opening the SIEW Thinktank Roundtable D on Advancing Nuclear Readiness for Energy Security and Decarbonisation, representatives from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) and Mott MacDonald shared their perspectives on preparing for nuclear energy's potential role in the region. Key takeaways from the session include:

• Building capabilities before making deployment decisions: Chia Meng Hwee, Director, Nuclear Development Department, EMA, emphasised that nuclear readiness does not necessarily mean committing to nuclear energy. For countries such as Singapore, it involves developing the expertise to assess technological suitability, economic viability, safety, security and safeguards before making informed decisions.
• Translating nuclear ambitions into action: Dr Jonathan Cobb, Senior Programme Lead, Climate, WNA, highlighted Southeast Asia's potential to develop nuclear energy capabilities amid growing electricity demand and exposure to volatile fossil fuel imports. He stressed that countries can begin strengthening regulatory frameworks, institutions and workforce capabilities even as they evaluate their technology options.
• Looking beyond reactor technology: Dr Ming Tan, Global Practice Leader for Nuclear, Mott MacDonald, noted that nuclear readiness extends beyond selecting reactor technologies. Establishing effective regulation, capable institutions, financing mechanisms and supply chains is equally important. He described readiness as a progressive journey, with different requirements for countries evaluating nuclear energy and those preparing for deployment.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.

The final day of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2026 continues the strategic conversations on nuclear readiness, artificial intelligence (AI) and the capabilities needed to support tomorrow’s energy systems.

In the morning, SIEW Thinktank Roundtable D, co-hosted with the World Nuclear Association, will examine nuclear energy’s potential contribution to Asia’s energy security and decarbonisation. Discussions will cover the regulatory, institutional and financing foundations needed for deployment.

At SIEW Thinktank Roundtable E co-hosted with the ASEAN Centre for Energy, speakers will explore AI’s dual role as a driver of electricity demand and a tool for improving grid operations. The programme includes a Keynote Address by H.E. Sakari Puisto, Minister of Economic Affairs, Republic of Finland.

The Spotlight Korea Forum will draw on Korea’s nuclear experience to examine SMR readiness, workforce development and the industrial capabilities needed to support deployment. Catch all of these highlights as SIEW 2026 comes to an exciting close today!

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for key insights and the latest updates.