Abstract
Although there is currently no operational nuclear power plant in the ten countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), regional governments have begun investing seriously in such programs. They have been motivated by several factors ranging from rising electricity demands to the perceived need to seek energy security, energy autonomy, and the diversification of supply. Prestige considerations associated with entering the “nuclear club” and a strong marketing push by vendors may have also played a role in guiding their decisions.
The pursuit of nuclear power by ASEAN countries has continued more or less uninterrupted even in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan (March 2011). This has raised a number of concerns because Southeast Asia is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and volcanic eruptions, and because corruption is rampant and there is a lack of well-rounded safety culture. Moreover, the presence of home-grown terrorist (and piracy) activity, such as the Jemaah Islamiyah network, exposes the region to serious nuclear security concerns, which would only be de-multiplied with the presence of nuclear waste.
This paper is the first product of a multi-year project supported by the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The project is intended to give background information on the civilian nuclear activities conducted in each ASEAN country (which includes, but is not limited to, nuclear power), map out and describe their key organizations and offices responsible for managing such activities, and provide an update on their implementation of the so-called “three s’s,” i.e. nuclear safeguards, safety, and security. This first paper examines each of these three dimensions in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
PDF