US-led talks on small modular reactors could renew Asean’s nuclear push

DESPITE years of discussion, nuclear energy remains in its infancy in South-east Asia, with no country yet achieving commercial operations. However, new technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) are sparking renewed interest.

While SMRs promise significant advancements in safety, cost efficiency, and performance, their adoption hinges on countries developing the necessary technical expertise and regulatory frameworks.

In South-east Asia, the US is said to be in talks with several nations – including Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand – regarding deploying SMRs, Bloomberg had previously reported.