Singapore Cautious as ASEAN Nuclear Plans Target the 2030s

Nuclear Targets Advance Faster Than Public Details

Singapore cannot yet verify how far its Southeast Asian neighbours have progressed toward building nuclear power plants, even as governments discuss starting generation in the 2030s. Minister in charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng told Parliament that officials are comparing limited public information with information from international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to assess regional plans.

As of November 7, 2025, the proposed schedules span several countries: the Philippines is targeting nuclear generation around 2032, Indonesia its first plant in the early to mid 2030s, Malaysia possible inclusion in its electricity mix as early as 2031, and Vietnam a return to nuclear development between 2030 and 2035. Firm technology choices, detailed project disclosures and definitive construction schedules remain scarce.

ASEAN electricity demand is projected to triple by 2050 as economies grow and digital infrastructure expands. Coal and gas supplied about two thirds of the region's electricity in 2022, while renewable sources supplied roughly one third. Governments seeking both lower emissions and more secure energy supplies are therefore considering nuclear power, with regional work supported by the ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation.

Dr Tan said some countries have suggested possible sites, including locations in remote parts of Indonesia. Singapore is monitoring the plans and their risks while studying nuclear energy for itself. It has made no decision to deploy the technology.

The central issue is how governments turn their targets into projects with suitable sites, capable regulators, trained workers and financing. Investors and neighbouring countries currently have limited visibility on what will be built, where it will operate and when it will begin supplying electricity.

Singapore Studies Readiness at Home and Abroad

Singapore is using international cooperation to build a clearer picture of neighbouring programmes. Dr Tan described a process of triangulating information: comparing the sparse public details with information from international agencies rather than relying on a single announcement.

The Energy Market Authority is assessing advanced nuclear technologies as part of Singapore's strategy for electricity with lower carbon emissions. The National Environment Agency is examining safety and safeguards, the controls intended to keep nuclear activities secure and accountable.

British engineering firm Mott MacDonald is conducting a technical study covering small modular reactors (SMRs) cooled by water and a range of Generation IV designs. Generation IV refers to advanced reactor concepts that use different coolants, operating temperatures or fuel cycles from conventional plants.

Dr Tan indicated that, if neighbouring countries select advanced designs, Singapore's readiness would likely be on par with theirs. The country is building its capabilities while assessing whether those technologies suit its own circumstances.

What Countries Must Prepare Before Construction

Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam already operate research reactors used for medicine, materials science and training. Those facilities include Malaysia's Triga Puspati reactor, Indonesia's reactors at Serpong, Bandung and Yogyakarta, and Vietnam's Da Lat reactor. Building a plant to supply electricity requires a broader programme.

The IAEA Milestones Approach sets out a path described in five stages, from early consideration to expansion. Governments must establish a Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization to coordinate work on nineteen infrastructure topics.

The consideration stage often takes two to three years, preparation three to five years, and implementation seven to eight years. Those periods explain why an announced starting date depends on progress across institutions, regulation and construction, as well as on the reactor itself.

Regional programmes are advancing at different speeds. Their announced targets and review dates outline the following timetable:

• 2030 to 2035: Vietnam is planning the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 projects.
• As early as 2031: Malaysia is considering nuclear energy in its electricity mix.
• Around 2032: The Philippines is targeting initial nuclear generation, while an independent developer in Indonesia is also targeting operations around this date.
• Early to mid 2030s: Indonesia is discussing commissioning its first nuclear power plant.
• Late 2030s: Thailand is exploring small modular reactors.
• 2026: Vietnam is preparing for an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review.

Indonesia and the Philippines Explore Several Designs

Indonesia has outlined an initial nuclear programme of 500 megawatts split between two plants. Options include small modular reactors and floating plants that could suit a country made up of islands. Its national utility has explored cooperation with partners from the United States and Japan.

Independent developers have proposed reactors using molten salt and floating units, with one developer targeting operations around 2032. Indonesia also reports a growing list of potential sites and brings decades of experience operating research reactors. Fossil fuels still supply most of its electricity, so nuclear development would add steady power with lower carbon emissions as demand rises.

The Philippines is putting policies in place for a first plant around 2032. Its longer term plan seeks several gigawatts of nuclear capacity by the middle of the century. Lawmakers have advanced a framework for an independent regulator, while officials have engaged suppliers of small modular reactors, microreactors and floating units that could serve remote areas.

Manila is also considering whether to reuse the mothballed Bataan facility. Declining production from the Malampaya gas field adds urgency to decisions about future electricity supplies.

The Philippine Department of Energy has outlined measures to give early nuclear projects clear market access and pricing rules. Developers need to know how they can sell electricity and how prices will be determined before they can secure financing.

Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand Set Different Priorities

Vietnam paused an earlier nuclear programme before reopening the discussion as it seeks to replace coal during the 2030s. Current planning places the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 sites in the 2030 to 2035 window, with several thousand megawatts of capacity and further expansion toward 2050.

Vietnam is preparing for an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review in 2026 and engaging experienced partners from Asia, Europe and North America. Its aim is to strengthen institutions and train its workforce before committing to construction.

Malaysia is considering nuclear energy as it works toward net zero emissions by 2050 and seeks dependable electricity for industry and a growing data centre sector. Policymakers have discussed including nuclear in the mix as early as 2031. Current work covers preliminary feasibility assessments, legal frameworks and public engagement.

Malaysia is also preparing for international benchmarking and building oversight capacity. Supporters cite steady electricity with lower carbon emissions and the potential for small modular reactors to reduce the initial financial commitment. Critics point to waste, safety and cost, calling for a measured approach and strong transparency.

Thailand is exploring small modular reactors for the late 2030s. Its energy plans refer to around 600 megawatts from these units as part of a wider move toward carbon neutrality. Bangkok has joined international cooperation programmes and is developing regulatory capacity while keeping its timetable flexible.

Singapore is studying whether small modular reactors could supply roughly ten percent of its electricity by 2050, subject to safety and cost. Cambodia and Myanmar have taken only initial steps. Across ASEAN, ministers have discussed a regional readiness framework to share best practices and align safeguards.

How the Reactor Options Differ

Large conventional reactors cooled by water provide substantial, steady electricity output and have long operating histories in many countries. They use pressurized or boiling water systems with multiple safety layers, so another system can provide protection if one fails. Their designs are proven, but construction is complex.

Advanced designs seek equal or better safety with greater flexibility and different fuel cycles. Generation IV concepts include systems cooled by gas at high temperatures, molten salt, sodium and lead. Some are designed to reach temperatures suitable for industrial heat and hydrogen production as well as electricity generation.

Many advanced designs use passive safety features. These rely on natural forces such as gravity and convection, the movement of fluid as its temperature changes, rather than depending on pumps. Conventional and advanced reactors can both support climate goals when projects stay within their budgets and schedules.

Small modular reactors typically produce between 50 and 300 megawatts per unit. They are designed for fabrication in factories, followed by shipment and assembly at the site. Developers aim for shorter construction periods, smaller financing requirements for each unit and easier integration with grids of moderate size.

Operators could add several modules in stages as electricity demand grows. Early projects still face risks associated with building a design for the first time. Standardization and experience from repeated construction could lower costs over time.

Floating nuclear plants place reactors on vessels or barges built for that purpose and moored near the coast. They could supply islands, ports and industrial zones, then move for refuelling or maintenance. Developers argue that this approach reduces land requirements and could speed deployment.

Regulators would still need to assess maritime safety, emergency planning and environmental protection. Advanced reactors could also support desalination, which removes salt from water, and heat for industrial processes. Providing those services alongside electricity could improve project economics.

Safety, Waste and Training Shape Public Trust

ASEAN's location in a seismically active region makes site selection and engineering central to nuclear planning. Reactors must meet strict seismic standards and have robust emergency arrangements. Newer designs combine passive systems with simpler layouts to reduce the chance of severe accidents.

Spent nuclear fuel requires management over a long period. Most countries follow a sequence in which fuel first cools in pools, then moves into dry storage casks at the plant site for decades, before eventual consolidation in secure facilities with strong safeguards.

Some suppliers offer services to take fuel back or recycle it, potentially reducing the burden on the country operating the reactor. Governments still need clear laws, funding and public oversight for every stage of waste management.

Workers are another practical requirement. Plant operators, regulators and emergency responders need specialized skills that take time to develop. Regional estimates indicate gaps running into thousands of people for full nuclear programmes.

Partnerships with experienced operators, scholarships and regional training centres could help build that workforce. Public confidence also depends on credible oversight and open discussion of safety, waste and the costs of maintaining those protections.

Financing Must Match Long Construction Schedules

Large reactors require many billions of dollars, loans with long repayment periods and stable government policy. Smaller units also need dependable construction budgets and confidence that their electricity will find buyers.

One prominent small modular reactor programme in the United States saw its projected electricity price rise from about 55 dollars to 89 dollars per megawatt hour before cancellation. That is an increase of 34 dollars, or about 62 percent, showing how much early cost estimates can change.

Brianna Lazerwitz, an energy economist at the IAEA, has warned that investors face a combination of development risk, long schedules and complex liability rules. She described how those concerns affect nuclear investment:

Nuclear projects have unique risks for investors compared to other large infrastructure projects.

Proposals discussed in the region include bringing multilateral development banks into projects early, dividing development into phases and securing electricity purchases from large users such as data centres and industrial parks. Clear, independent regulation could also reduce the risks perceived by investors.

Investor interest is growing as more governments include nuclear power in strategies for net zero emissions. A group of global financiers has called for nuclear capacity to triple by 2050.

ASEAN energy ministers have also announced an ASEAN Nuclear Energy Readiness Framework to help countries assess their progress and prepare institutions. New financing initiatives for electricity grids that cross borders could support nuclear integration by helping move electricity to where it is needed.

Shared Grids Could Support Nuclear Supply

The Laos Thailand Malaysia Singapore Power Integration Project has demonstrated electricity trading across several national borders. Hydropower from Laos travels through Thailand and Malaysia to reach Singapore.

Regional ministers say nine of the eighteen planned ASEAN Power Grid interconnections have been completed, providing more than ten gigawatts of capacity. That means half of the planned connections are complete. The capacity goal is twenty five gigawatts by 2030.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the Laos Thailand Malaysia Singapore project offers a viable business model for wider electricity trade. He described its potential reach:

This business model can be scaled to all ASEAN nations within the ASEAN Power Grid framework.

Fadillah said shared grids improve energy security by allowing neighbours to support one another when demand peaks or generation falls. For nuclear plants, a larger connected system can provide support during outages or maintenance and help coordinate electricity supply alongside growing solar and wind generation.

Nuclear reactors can provide steady baseload electricity, the continuing supply that supports everyday demand. Connections between countries would allow that output to serve a wider market while giving operators more options for balancing supply and demand.

Singapore's Decision Depends on Local Conditions

Singapore has little spare land and limited wind resources. Even the greatest possible use of rooftop solar would meet only a fraction of electricity demand. Import agreements help meet its needs, while security over the longer term points to a role for dependable electricity with lower carbon emissions at home or near its border.

Advanced small modular reactors are a candidate because they require less space, can incorporate passive safety features and may fit Singapore's grid. The country's 2012 preliminary feasibility study concluded that older nuclear plants were unsuitable for a densely populated city state. New designs have changed the options under examination.

Current reviews cover siting, emergency planning, waste and insurance, alongside the role of electricity imports and the ASEAN Power Grid. Officials are building technical capabilities, engaging the public and maintaining close contact with international partners.

During a recent visit, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Singapore has the technical expertise and institutions to move quickly once it makes a choice. He described why he considered nuclear energy relevant to the country:

Singapore could be the most perfect example of a country that needs nuclear energy.

Singapore's decision will depend on safety, reliability, affordability and environmental performance under local conditions. The government says public engagement will continue, with regular updates on the benefits and risks of advanced reactors.

What to Know

• Singapore has not decided to deploy nuclear power and cannot yet verify the maturity of neighbouring programmes.
• ASEAN electricity demand is projected to triple by 2050. Coal and gas supplied about two thirds of its power in 2022.
• Targets include Malaysia as early as 2031, the Philippines around 2032, Indonesia in the early to mid 2030s, Vietnam between 2030 and 2035, and Thailand in the late 2030s.
• Vietnam is preparing for an international nuclear infrastructure review in 2026.
• Small modular and floating reactors are under consideration, alongside larger conventional plants.
• Financing, safety, waste management, regulation and trained workers are central requirements for construction and operation.
• Nine of eighteen planned ASEAN Power Grid interconnections are complete, with more than ten gigawatts of capacity and a target of twenty five gigawatts by 2030.
• Singapore is studying whether small modular reactors could supply roughly ten percent of its electricity by 2050, subject to safety and cost.