Summary
Many nations in Southeast Asia view their growing energy needs as a looming crisis, one that could potentially be averted by development of civil nuclear programs. Timetables for nuclear development in the region are ambitious, but these ambitions often do not correspond with practical investment plans that are economically viable or logistically feasible. The feasibility and viability of nuclear development in these states is becoming even more complex when nuclear security and nonproliferation concerns are taken into account. While the events in Fukushima have cast a shadow over the pace of this expansion, several countries in Southeast Asia continue to show interest in nuclear power as a means to meet future energy requirements. For this reason, Southeast Asia remains a salient region in any global effort to manage nuclear security risks.
The need to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and gas imports in part drives Southeast Asian countries’ interest in nuclear power. Rapid economic growth in the region, potentially straining electricity supply in states such as Indonesia and Vietnam, contributes to this calculation. Prestige, regional influence, and economic competition further motivate Southeast Asian governments as they watch closely the plans of their regional neighbors. Prior to the Fukushima crisis, a previously tepid public stance toward nuclear energy had showed signs of warming.
From 2006 to 2011, the above factors combined to support the development of ambitious nuclear energy expansion plans by states in the region. In parallel, regional growth in industrial sectors not related to energy but utilizing nuclear technology, such as the production of radioisotopes for medical and agricultural applications, continues. Starting with the historical context, this chapter examines these developments, which are vital to framing any estimate of Southeast Asia’s nuclear security needs and challenges.
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