Singapore sees opportunities in fusion through research, manufacturing, talent, and global industry partnerships.
Singapore may not need to build its own fusion reactor to benefit from the technology, as the government positions the country to participate in an emerging industry expected to attract substantial investment.
Singapore Targets Wider Fusion Economy
Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said on October 1 that Singapore could capture economic opportunities from nuclear fusion even without hosting its own fusion reactor. Speaking at FusionX, he highlighted Singapore’s capabilities in precision engineering, advanced manufacturing, plasma diagnostics, research, and talent development as areas that could support the wider fusion industry.
Global Fusion Market Draws Investment
Tan said advances in fusion technology have encouraged stronger commercial interest, with the global fusion ecosystem forecast to reach US$419.84 billion by the end of the decade. He pointed to progress in technologies such as superconducting magnets and gyrotrons, as well as experiments that have achieved fusion ignition and demonstrated net energy gain in controlled settings.
Singapore Firms Already Join Projects
Singapore is already participating in international fusion research and manufacturing partnerships. A*STAR began working with US-based Realta Fusion in 2024 and delivered a diagnostic system in 2025 to measure plasma movement. A*STAR and ST Engineering have also partnered with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to support research and manufacture components for the company’s demonstration reactor.
Fusion Seen as Potential Energy Pathway
Tan described fusion as one of several emerging technologies Singapore is monitoring as part of its long-term energy strategy. Compared with nuclear fission, fusion involves combining atomic nuclei rather than splitting them, and offers the potential for less long-lived radioactive waste, no risk of a runaway chain reaction, and low-carbon electricity generation. Commercial deployment, however, remains years away.
Energy Security Drives Long-Term Study
Tan said energy is an “existential resource” for Singapore, making long-term planning necessary as the country evaluates future energy options. The Ministry of Trade and Industry was also renamed the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry on October 1, reflecting what Tan described as the growing importance of energy to economic growth, climate objectives, and resilience. Singapore has not yet decided whether it will deploy nuclear energy.
For Singaporeans, the fusion push is currently focused less on building a reactor and more on developing capabilities that could support a future global industry through research, manufacturing, and international partnerships. For Indonesians following regional energy development, Singapore’s strategy offers an example of how Southeast Asian economies may participate in emerging energy technologies before commercial fusion power becomes widely available.
Sources: Red Hot SG (2026) , Head Topics SG (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Fusion Energy, Nuclear Fusion Singapore, Tan See Leng, Advanced Manufacturing, Fusion Economy, Clean Energy Technology
