Southeast Asia is pursuing nuclear energy for the first time in its history, driven by a convergence of three forces: surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers, volatile fossil fuel prices triggered by Middle East conflict, and finite oil reserves. Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia have all set nuclear targets for the 2030s, marking a dramatic reversal after decades of abandoned atomic ambitions. The region accounts for more than 2,000 data centers and will drive a quarter of global energy demand growth by 2035, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Why Is Southeast Asia Suddenly Serious About Nuclear Power? For decades, Southeast Asian governments talked about nuclear energy but never committed. What changed? The answer lies partly in geopolitics and partly in economics. The escalating Iran conflict has driven crude oil prices higher, exposing the region's vulnerability to Middle East supply shocks. "The ongoing conflict in the Middle East definitely demonstrates how volatile fossil fuel costs are and the instability of the supply," explained Alvie Asuncion-Astronomo, a researcher at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. This urgency is real: Malaysia currently generates 81% of its electricity from fossil fuels, with solar and wind providing just 2%. But geopolitics alone don't explain the nuclear pivot. The real driver is data centers. A single AI data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, according to the IEA. Malaysia alone has more than 500 operational data centers, with another 300 under construction and around 1,140 planned, according to the think tank Ember. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia have invested heavily in the region, particularly in Malaysia, which aspires to become Southeast Asia's AI computing hub. "There is a more serious, new and growing momentum for the development of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia," stated King Lee of the World Nuclear Association. This isn't hyperbole. Nearly half of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states are now actively pursuing nuclear programs, a dramatic shift from the region's historical hesitation. What Are the Specific Nuclear Targets Each Country Has Set? Five ASEAN nations have announced concrete nuclear goals, each with different timelines and ambitions: - Vietnam: Building two full-scale nuclear plants backed by Russian state corporation Rosatom, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh calling them "nationally significant, strategic projects." The country's revised atomic energy law took effect in January 2026. - Indonesia: Added nuclear to its energy plan last year, aiming to build two small modular reactors by 2034. Officials report that Canada and Russia have issued formal cooperation proposals. - Thailand: Set a target of adding 600 megawatts of nuclear generating capacity by 2037, with officials calling nuclear a "promising solution" for affordable, clean electricity. - Philippines: Set a 2032 target and approved an investor roadmap in February 2026. The country built a nuclear plant in the 1970s that was never activated, but a new atomic energy regulatory authority launched last year signals serious intent. - Malaysia: Revived its nuclear program last year and set a 2031 target for bringing atomic energy online. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Malaysia in 2025. Even countries without firm plans are signaling interest. Cambodia's latest national strategy expressed openness to nuclear, Singapore outlined plans to study atomic potential, and Brunei told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is "carefully exploring nuclear energy". Singapore How Does Southeast Asia's Nuclear Push Fit Into a Global Trend? Southeast Asia's nuclear revival mirrors a worldwide movement. Nearly 40 nations, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China, have joined a global push to triple installed nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Southeast Asia alone will account for nearly a fourth of the 157 gigawatts expected from "newcomer nuclear nations" by mid-century, according to the World Nuclear Association. President Donald Trump has made nuclear central to U.S. AI infrastructure strategy, ordering the quadrupling of U.S. nuclear power within 25 years in 2025. This U.S. commitment signals to other nations that nuclear is becoming mainstream infrastructure, not a fringe energy source. Global nuclear capacity is projected to more than triple to about 1,446 gigawatts by 2050 if existing reactors continue operating and governments meet their stated targets. What Are the Practical Steps Countries Are Taking to Build Nuclear Capacity? Southeast Asian nations are moving beyond rhetoric with concrete partnerships and regulatory frameworks: - International Partnerships: Vietnam and Russia advanced a nuclear power deal this week as energy security concerns worsened. Bangladesh, in South Asia, is racing to power up its new nuclear plant, also backed by Russia. Indonesia reports formal cooperation proposals from Canada and Russia. - Regulatory Infrastructure: The Philippines launched a new atomic energy regulatory authority last year and approved an investor roadmap in February 2026. Vietnam's revised atomic energy law took effect in January 2026, creating the legal framework for nuclear development. - Diplomatic Engagement: Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Malaysia in 2025, calling it "a signal to the world of how civil nuclear cooperation is something that is available." These aren't vague commitments. Countries are establishing regulatory bodies, signing international agreements, and setting specific capacity targets with defined timelines. The Philippines' experience is instructive: after building a nuclear plant in the 1970s that never operated, the country is now creating the institutional infrastructure needed to actually deploy nuclear power. What Are Experts Saying About the Risks and Realistic Prospects? Not everyone is optimistic. Concerns over nuclear safety, waste management, and supply chain vulnerabilities remain significant. Public resistance flared after the 1986 Chernobyl and 2011 Fukushima nuclear disasters, though even Japan has begun restarting its plants. "We are not anticipating that nuclear electricity will be cheap at the onset," said Asuncion-Astronomo. "But in the long term, it will improve the Philippines' energy reliability, security, independence and eventually costs." Alvie Asuncion-Astronomo, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Bridget Woodman, a researcher at Zero Carbon Analytics, warned that as the world falls further behind on climate goals, nuclear can appear deceptively more attractive than less risky alternatives like renewable energy. She emphasized that Southeast Asian countries "considering starting a nuclear industry from scratch" need to carefully weigh "the possibility of accidents". She Amalina Anuar, with the ISEAS-Yusof Institute, offered a more measured perspective: "There's more incentive to follow through compared to previous flirtations with nuclear energy." The difference, she noted, is that Malaysia's oil and gas reserves are finite, creating genuine urgency. Dinita Setyawati with Ember acknowledged the urgency but urged caution: "Malaysia's decarbonization is both urgent and critical as rising demand from AI and data centers is anticipated. But the nuclear option should be approached cautiously". The bottom line: Southeast Asia's nuclear moment is real, driven by converging pressures that previous decades didn't face. Whether these programs succeed depends on whether countries can build the regulatory expertise, international partnerships, and public trust needed to operate nuclear plants safely. For the first time, the region seems willing to try.
