Nuclear energy is regaining serious attention in Southeast Asia as\ncountries in the region prepare to meet a surge in electricity needs,\nparticularly to support the growth of AI-based data centres.<\/p>\n
Several countries are reviving previously delayed nuclear plans and\nsetting ambitious targets. If realised, nearly half the countries in the\nregion could have nuclear power plants operational in the 2030s. Even\nnations without concrete plans are showing interest.<\/p>\n
To date, Southeast Asia has never generated electricity from nuclear\nenergy, despite long-standing ambitions. However, this situation could\nchange amid growing pressure to reduce climate-changing emissions while\nmeeting rising energy demands.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the conflict in Iran has highlighted Asia\u2019s energy\nsupply vulnerabilities, strengthening the urgency to seek alternatives\nto oil and gas. The spike in crude oil prices due to the conflict is\nalso pushing countries to accelerate nuclear development efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe escalating conflict has sparked motivation for countries to\nspeed up their nuclear programmes,\u201d said Alvie Asuncion-Astronomo from\nthe Philippine Nuclear Research Institute on Thursday (26\/3\/2026).<\/p>\n
This week, Vietnam and Russia signed a cooperation agreement to build\na nuclear power plant amid rising concerns over regional energy\nsecurity. In South Asia, Bangladesh is also accelerating the operation\nof its new nuclear power plant, supported by Russia, to address energy\nshortages.<\/p>\n
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Southeast Asia\nwill contribute about a quarter of global energy demand growth by 2035.\nOne of the main drivers is the proliferation of data centres, with more\nthan 2,000 facilities scattered across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,\nThailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, according to research institute\nEmber.<\/p>\n
That number is expected to continue growing. This phenomenon is\nevident in Malaysia, which is positioning itself as Southeast Asia\u2019s AI\ncomputing hub and has attracted investments from major technology\ncompanies such as Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia.<\/p>\n
The resurgence of interest in nuclear energy in Southeast Asia also\nreflects a global trend. Nearly 40 countries, including the United\nStates, Japan, South Korea, and China, have joined a global effort to\ntriple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.<\/p>\n
According to the World Nuclear Association, Southeast Asia is\nexpected to contribute nearly a quarter of the total 157 gigawatts of\ncapacity generated by new nuclear-using countries by mid-century.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a new momentum that is more serious and continuously\ngrowing for nuclear energy development in Southeast Asia,\u201d said King Lee\nfrom the association.<\/p>\n
Five of the 11 ASEAN member countries\u2014Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand,\nVietnam, and the Philippines\u2014are now actively pursuing nuclear energy\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Vietnam is building two nuclear power plants with support from\nRussian state company Rosatom. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh described\nthe project as a national strategic initiative. Vietnam\u2019s revisions to\nits atomic energy law also took effect in January.<\/p>\n
Indonesia included nuclear energy in its new energy plan last year,\ntargeting the construction of two small modular reactors by 2034. The\ngovernment says Canada and Russia have submitted formal cooperation\nproposals.<\/p>\n
Thailand is targeting an addition of 600 megawatts of nuclear\ncapacity by 2037. The country\u2019s electricity authority describes nuclear\nas a promising solution to provide sufficient, affordable, and clean\nelectricity.<\/p>\n
The Philippines has the longest involvement with nuclear in the\nregion, having built a nuclear power plant in the 1970s that was never\noperated. Last year, the country established a new atomic energy\nregulatory authority and is targeting nuclear use by 2032.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not expect nuclear electricity to be cheap in the early\nstages,\u201d said Asuncion-Astronomo. However, in the long term, nuclear\nenergy is seen as able to enhance reliability, security, and energy\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Other countries such as Cambodia, Singapore, and Brunei are also\nbeginning to open opportunities. Singapore is studying nuclear\npotential, while Brunei has stated it is cautiously exploring options\nwith the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).<\/p>\n
The surge in data centres is one of the main factors driving\nincreased energy needs. These facilities are large windowless buildings\nfilled with high-capacity computers. The IEA notes that one AI data\ncentre can consume electricity equivalent to 100,000 households.<\/p>\n
Malaysia is the most prominent example. The country has more than 500\noperating data centres, about 300 under construction, and more than\n1,000 others planned. The Malaysian government reactivated its nuclear\nprogramme last year and is targeting the first plant to operate by\n2031.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany industries are developing in Malaysia, from data centres and\nsemiconductors to mining. All of them require energy,\u201d said Zayana\nZaikariah from the Institute of Strategic & International Studies in\nKuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
The United States is also supporting these efforts. Foreign Minister\nMarco Rubio signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Malaysia\nlast year. President Donald Trump has also pushed for increased nuclear\ncapacity to meet data centre needs, targeting a fourfold increase over\nthe next 25 years.<\/p>\n
However, the risks of nuclear energy remain a concern. Worries about\nsafety, waste, and supply continue to loom, especially after the 1986\nChernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima incident.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Japan, which halted all its reactors after the\nFukushima disaster, is now beginning to restart its plants.<\/p>\n
Bridget Woodman from Zero Carbon Analytics warns in k<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/energy-crisis-and-ai-drive-southeast-asia-to-reconsider-nuclear-power-1774669879", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }