Singapore studying possible use of nuclear power

SINGAPORE — Singapore's government says it is studying the possible use of nuclear energy in the city-state but is not close to making a final decision.

Senior Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Education S Iswaran told parliament Monday that the government has begun a pre-feasibility study on nuclear power.

Iswaran said the government will be a "long way away" from deciding whether to use nuclear energy even after the study is complete.

He said the government is actively exploring options to diversity the country's fuel mix in the near-term.

Iswaran said the crisis at Japan's tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has made the government want to better understand atomic energy before deciding whether to use it. (AP)