Abstract
Southeast Asian nations are embarking on a pursuit for nuclear energy. While this promises to help satisfy the region’s growing energy thirst in a more cost-efficient and climate-friendly way, nuclear power also has its perils. The specter of proliferation looms large and the potential for nuclear accidents remains high in a region prone to natural disasters and averse to strong institutional safeguards and export controls. Policymakers will have to be vigilant in mitigating these threats in order to ensure the region’s safe passage through its nuclear future.
Electricity in Southeast Asia is primarily sourced from coal, oil, natural gas, and hydro-power. 1 While the region is awash with energy resources, rising demand has placed a strain on them. Southeast Asia has been a net oil importer for some years, and significant natural gas reserves are often located far from demand centers and hence require massive infrastructure investments. 2 Given this gloomy picture, the region is turning to alternative sources, including nuclear power, to satiate its growing appetite for energy. Several regional trends suggest that this trend will accelerate in the decades to come.
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