The cost of the nuclear power plants, slated to be the first in Southeast Asia, doubled since they were first tabled in 2009 to an estimated $18 billion, officials said earlier. The government said costs mushroomed as they sought more advanced technology following Japan's deadly Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. Though nuclear power does not produce harmful carbon emissions, environmentalists have raised concerns about nuclear waste storage. The government said scrapping the huge nuclear projects would not affect much-needed power supplies. "The project suspension will not undermine the country's power supply security," it said.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 22, 2016 12:08 UTC