Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Nearly 40 nations — including the US, Japan, South Korea and China — have joined a global push to triple installed nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Southeast Asia will account for nearly a fourth of the 157 gigawatts expected from “newcomer nuclear nations” by mid-century, according to the industry-backed World Nuclear Association. A new atomic energy regulatory authority launched last year will “usher in the integration of nuclear power,” according to Philippine officials. “But the nuclear option should be approached cautiously.”Nuclear power risks remainGlobal nuclear capacity will more than triple — to about 1,446 gigawatts — by 2050 if existing reactors continue operations and governments meet their stated targets, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Source: Taipei Times March 30, 2026 17:12 UTC