NUS signs agreements with IRSN to cooperate on nuclear safety training and education

On the occasion of the State visit of the President of the Republic of Singapore to France, NUS and IRSN today signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on training and education in nuclear safety. The collaboration provides for the development of expertise in the field of nuclear safety, nuclear emergency management, environmental monitoring, and radiation protection.

Under the MoU, the European Nuclear Safety Training and Tutoring Institute (ENSTTI), the training arm of IRSN, will conduct training courses in France and Singapore for researchers and technical experts from the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI).

A second agreement covers the transfer of rights for the use of the Accident Source Term Evaluation Code (ASTEC), which would be used for safety analysis research.

Both agreements were signed between Professor Barry Halliwell, Deputy President, Research and Technology, NUS, on behalf of SNRSI, and Mr Jacques Repussard, Director General for IRSN, which is the national public agency for oversight of nuclear risks and radiological protection.

"IRSN has deep expertise in nuclear safety. This collaboration will enable Singapore to build up technical capabilities in assessing the possible impact of nuclear incidents and developing safety and emergency response plans," said Prof Halliwell.

Mr Jacques Repussard added: "Both agreements put forth the common belief that nuclear safety is based on scientific and technical excellence. It is in this context that Singapore and IRSN are working together to develop capabilities in nuclear safety in Singapore."