Nuclear Energy

Using the framework of multi-level regional governance, the nuclear energy programme explores pathways toward building a robust framework for nuclear energy safety, security and safeguards in ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The programme will advance regional cooperation in nuclear energy governance; garner lessons and guidelines from global nuclear norms through analyses of legislative frameworks; examine the prospects for an ASEAN blueprint for nuclear energy; and build capacity for effective regional nuclear administration and implementation.

Core research areas

The programme is divided into three research themes: (a) comparative legislative matrix; (b) crafting regional regulatory regimes; and (c) capacity building and policy pathways.

• Comparative legislative matrix. The most important strand of nuclear governance is the national legal framework, which will inform the development of nuclear energy particularly over the issue of safety, security and safeguards. Through a comprehensive analysis of national plans, domestic laws and proposed legislation in Southeast Asia, the programme determines the boundaries and limitations to the current and emerging system of governance covering nuclear 3S in the Asia – Pacific.

  

• Crafting regional regulatory regimes.  The programme examines the existing regional frameworks on nuclear energy governance energy outside the ASEAN region. It will assess how these international and regional frameworks can inform nuclear governance in ASEAN. With the planned utilisation of civilian nuclear energy in the region in the foreseeable future, ASEAN should play an active role in global and regional cooperation on nuclear governance and develop a robust nuclear energy regime framework.

• Capacity-building and policy pathways. The programme draws on the data and insight collected in phases one and two to inform the drafting of an ASEAN blueprint on nuclear security, safety and safeguards for consideration by regional leaders and partners. It aims to develop an ASEAN framework for the management of spent fuel; conduct a feasibility study into the establishment of a regional nuclear crisis centre; and explore the prospects for a regional nuclear enrichment centre. Furthermore it seeks to identify and train the next generation of thought leaders and develop a regional network at the track two level to continue to inform important policy debates around nuclear energy governance in the Asia-Pacific.

Publications

Commentaries

• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Fukushima Six Years After: East Asia’s Nuclear Energy Conundrum, RSIS Commentaries, 17 March 2017.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Floating Nuclear Power Plants: Are They Safe and Secure?, RSIS Commentaries, 7 October 2016.
• Margareth Sembiring, Climate Change and Renewable Energy: Mitigation or Vulnerability?, RSIS Commentaries, 13 July 2016.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano and Phidel Vineles, Road To Low-Carbon ASEAN Community, RSIS Commentaries, 17 June 2016.
• Olli Heinonen, Growth of Nuclear Energy: Issues in Safety, Safeguards and Security, RSIS Commentaries,24 May 2016.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Cheaper Fossil Fuels: The Relevance of Nuclear Energy, RSIS Commentaries, 9 May 2016.
• Alvin Chew, Nuclear Terrorism: Public Education as Effective Counter, RSIS Commentaries, 12 April 2016.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Five Years After Fukushima: Southeast Asia’s Nuclear Dilemma, RSIS Commentaries, 17 March 2016.
• Ong Keng Yong and Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Strengthening Energy Security: Key to Sustainable Development in Asia, RSIS Commentaries, 26 October 2015.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, An ASEAN Nuclear Crisis Centre: Preparing for a Technological Disaster in Southeast Asia, RSIS Commentaries, 9 June 2015.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano. Nuclear Safety in Southeast Asia: Lessons from the Nuclear Pioneers. RSIS Commentaries, 9 February 2015.
• Margareth Sembiring and Julius Cesar I. Trajano.Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia: Priorities and Commitments Needed. RSIS Commentaries, 28 November 2014.
• Mely Caballero-Anthony, Alistair D. B. Cook, Julius Cesar I. Trajano, and Margareth Sembiring. Can ASEAN Develop a Robust Nuclear Energy Regime? RSIS Commentaries, 4 November 2014.
• Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies. Energy Security in the 21st Century: A Human Security Perspective. NTS Bulletin, October 2014.
• Sofiah Jamil. Nuclear Energy in Southeast Asia: Public Engagement Before Policies, RSIS Commentaries, 23 April 2014.
• Margareth Sembiring. Energy Security: Would Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan Nuclearise Southeast Asia? RSIS Commentaries, 16 December 2013.

Journal Article

• Mely Caballero-Anthony and Julius Cesar I. Trajano (2015) The State of Nuclear Energy in ASEAN: Regional Norms and Challenges. Asian Perspective: October-December 2015, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 695-724. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

NTS Report

• Mely Caballero-Anthony, Alistair D. B. Cook, Julius Cesar I. Trajano, and Margareth Sembiring.The Sustainability of Nuclear Energy in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges. NTS Report No. 1, October 2014.

Event Reports

• RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies, Nuclear Safety and Cooperation in ASEAN: An RSIS Roundtable at the  Singapore International Energy Week 2016, 28 October 2016 (Report, Singapore: RSIS Centre for NTS Studies, 2016).
• RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies, Is Southeast Asia Ready for Nuclear Power? An RSIS Roundtable at the  Singapore International Energy Week 2015, 29 October 2015 (Report, Singapore: RSIS Centre for NTS Studies, 2016).
• RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies. International Conference on Nuclear Governance Post-Fukushima, 31 October 2013. (Report, Singapore: RSIS Centre for NTS Studies, 2016).

 NTS Insight

• Sofiah Jamil and Lina Gong. Nuclear Energy Development in Southeast Asia: Implications for Singapore. NTS Insight, March 2013.

Edited Chapters

• Margareth Sembiring, Energy Security and Connectivity in Asia and Europe Edited Chapters, 04 July 2016.
• Mely Caballero-Anthony, Julius Cesar Imperial Trajano, Enhancing nuclear energy cooperation in ASEAN: Regional norms and challenges, 29 Sep 2017

Op-Eds

• Margareth Sembiring, Vietnam’s vision for a renewable energy future Op-Eds, 12 August 2016.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Five years after Fukushima: S-E Asia’s nuclear dilemma, The Straits Times, 14 April 2016.
• Ong Keng Yong and Julius Cesar I. Trajano, Strengthening energy security key to sustainable development in Asia, The Business Times, 22 October 2015.

Year In Review

• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, “Post-Nuclear Security Summits: The Need for Nuclear Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia,” in RSIS Non-Traditional Security Year in Review 2016, Singapore: RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, 2016. pp. 34-36.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, “Post-Nuclear Security Summits: The Need for Nuclear Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia,” in RSIS Non-Traditional Security Year in Review 2016, Singapore: RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, 2016. pp.37.
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, “The Future of Nuclear Power in Asia and Europe,” in RSIS Non-Traditional Security Year in Review 2015, Singapore: RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, 2015. pp. 46-49.
• Margareth Sembiring and Julius Cesar I. Trajano, “Building Regional Preparedness for Nuclear Energy,” in RSIS Non-Traditional Security Year in Review 2014. pp. 30­–32
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano, “Shale Gas Industry in China and India Faces Reality Check,” in RSIS Non-Traditional Security Year in Review 2014. p. 33

Events

• 6th CSCAP Nuclear Energy Experts Group Meeting, 27-28 February 2017, Singapore.
• Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN) for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Southeast Asia Regional Meeting 2016, 8-9 December 2016, Singapore.
• RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, S. Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies, RSIS, “Regional Norms for Cooperation on Nuclear Safety and Radiological Emergency in South East Asia,” 2 November 2016, Singapore.
• RSIS Roundtable at the Singapore International Energy Week 2016, “Nuclear Safety and Cooperation in ASEAN,” 28 October 2016, Singapore.
• RSIS Seminar by Dr Olli Heinonen, S Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies, RSIS, “Strengthening Regional Cooperation on Nuclear Safety in the Asia-Pacific,” 25 October 2016, Singapore.
• 5th CSCAP Nuclear Energy Experts Group Meeting, 19-20 Singapore 2016, Singapore.