Executive Summary

RSIS, in collaboration with the Energy Market Authority of Singapore, organised a roundtable on “Nuclear Safety and Security Culture: Powering Nuclear Governance in East Asia” at the 10th Singapore International Energy Week on 27 October 2017.  Roundtable speakers included Dr Phiphat Phruksarojanakun, Head of International Co-operation Section, Office of Atoms for Peace, Thailand; Ms Sabariah Bt Kader Ibrahim,  Head of International Training Sector, Nuclear Malaysia Training Centre of Malaysia Nuclear Agency; Dr Alvin Chew, Adjunct Fellow, RSIS; Dr Claude Guet, Programme Director at Energy Research Institute at NTU and Senior Advisor to the CEO of CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission); and Dr Su Jin Jung, Manager of Strategy and Performance Department, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety.

The speakers emphasised that the majority of past nuclear incidents, such as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, occurred because of human errors and management gaps, that is, a weak nuclear safety-security culture. The risks associated with nuclear energy do not originate from the technology itself but from the mindsets, attitudes, and behaviours of those who are involved in the operation and regulation of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials. The discussions therefore focused on strengthening nuclear safety-security culture in Southeast Asia and the lessons learnt from South Korea and France. The roundtable also identified various national and regional programmes that promote a nuclear safety-security culture among radiation workers and regulators and enhance nuclear energy governance in the region.