Following the nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear energy suffered a decline in global perception. However, amid the climate crisis and rising electricity demand, that narrative is beginning to shift.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says about 10% of the world's electricity currently comes from nuclear power, with a total capacity of 413 gigawatts spread across 32 countries - more than the entire electricity capacity of Africa.
The IEA also stresses that nuclear power development will need to "increase significantly" this decade to meet global carbon neutrality targets.
Southeast Asia is now emerging as a new battleground for energy, with electricity demand projected to triple by 2050. To meet this surge, nuclear energy is being reconsidered as a promising alternative—even though no nuclear power plants are currently operational in the region.
The Rise of Nuclear Ambitions in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is projected to contribute a quarter of global energy demand growth by 2035, with much of its energy supply still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Amid mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions and rapidly growing electricity needs, nuclear energy is increasingly being considered as a potential solution—even though no nuclear power plants (NPPs) are currently operational in the region.
Indonesia made headlines in early 2025 with an ambitious plan to build 20 new nuclear power plants, starting in 2036. If successful, Indonesia would become the first Southeast Asian country to operate a nuclear power plant, breaking with the region’s long-standing caution toward nuclear technology.
The Indonesian government has chosen Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as its flagship technology—next-generation reactors that are claimed to be safer, more cost-efficient, and faster to construct.
However, the plan is not without challenges. Indonesia lies along the seismically active Ring of Fire, making it vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Public concern over the risks of nuclear disasters remains high.
Still, Indonesia’s partnerships with U.S.-based company ThorCon and collaborations between PLN and companies from Japan and the U.S. reflect Jakarta’s seriousness in addressing those risks. Interest has also come from Russia, South Korea, France, and China.
In fact, President Putin and President Prabowo discussed nuclear cooperation last August. Russia’s Rosatom has also signed an agreement for the development of floating nuclear power plants, although no clear timeline has been established.
Indonesia isn’t alone. The Philippines is preparing to reactivate the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, with a capacity of 2 x 600 MW, and is also exploring SMR development.
Read also: The Story of Southeast Asia’s First Nuclear Power Plant
Vietnam has revived its nuclear project, which was previously canceled in 2016 due to costs ballooning to $18 billion. In January 2025, Vietnam signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Russia and estimates that around 2,400 specialists will be needed to support the project.
Meanwhile, countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Singapore have also shown interest in nuclear energy, although most remain in the early stages of discussion or feasibility studies.
A Double-Edged Sword: Clean Energy or Risk?
With the global push toward carbon neutrality by 2050, nuclear energy is becoming increasingly attractive to ASEAN countries. According to energy research institute Ember, the Philippines and Indonesia were the two most coal-dependent countries in Southeast Asia in 2023.
Because nuclear power plants do not produce direct carbon emissions and can replace fossil fuel-based generation, many view them as a viable solution for clean energy transition.
However, skepticism remains strong. Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive to build, take years to construct, and often require decades to reach a return on investment.
One SMR project in Idaho, USA, for example, was canceled after its cost per megawatt-hour (MWh) ballooned from $55 to $89, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
On the other hand, environmental activists like Derek Cabe of the Nuclear and Coal-Free Bataan movement call the "clean energy" narrative of nuclear power an illusion, as reported by DW. He highlights that uranium—the primary fuel—must be mined and transported, which still produces emissions.
Cabe also criticizes the lack of political will and the dominance of corporate interests as key obstacles to transitioning toward renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, and wind, which are actually abundant in the region.
Even so, international funding opportunities for nuclear energy are starting to open up. Fourteen global financial institutions expressed support for doubling global nuclear capacity by 2050 during the Climate Week NYC summit. However, to date, the World Bank still refuses to fund nuclear energy projects.
