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Rising power demand from economic growth is prompting many countries to reconsider the role of nuclear energy in their energy mix. (Image: iStock)
Taiwan’s referendum on restarting its third nuclear power plant has become a focal point of public debate in recent months, highlighting tensions between energy security and nuclear safety. Yet this vote is not an isolated case. It reflects a broader movement often described as a “global nuclear renaissance.” Under the pressures of climate change and energy transition, many countries are reassessing the role of nuclear power in their energy mix, turning its revival into a growing global trend.
Global nuclear power development stalled after Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011. However, with energy costs surging and concerns over energy security intensifying, Japan has begun to reconsider the role of nuclear power in recent years. The government revised its Basic Energy Plan, aiming to raise nuclear power’s share to 20% by 2040.
In the U.S., President Trump has moved to accelerate nuclear development, signing an executive order in May 2025 to ease regulatory hurdles and set a target of 400 GW in installed capacity by 2050. China has also announced plans to build 150 nuclear reactors over the next 15 years, with the goal of reaching 200 GW of capacity by 2035.
Meanwhile, the World Bank lifted its 12-year ban on financing nuclear energy projects this year, pledging to support the life extension of existing plants and actively promote the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
This global wave of nuclear revival has also reached Southeast Asia. The following section outlines how countries in the region are approaching nuclear power as part of their energy transition strategies.
Nuclear power in 34 countries worldwide, where do ASEAN’s six nations stand?
According to the World Nuclear Association’s data, 31 countries currently use nuclear power. That number will rise to 34 when including those with reactors under construction or nearing commissioning.
No Southeast Asian country currently operates nuclear power plants, but several are exploring the option. Vietnam and Indonesia are assessing the feasibility of building reactors, while the Philippines is considering reopening its dormant nuclear facility. Meanwhile, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are studying the potential of SMRs. The following section examines the progress of these six countries.
Figure 1. Global nuclear energy generation in 2024
1. Vietnam: Restarting nuclear power plants
Vietnam's nuclear power project began in 2005 with plans to build two nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan Province with a total capacity of 4GW. The National Assembly approved the budget in 2009 with an initial investment of VND 200 billion, entering into technical cooperation partnerships with Russia's Rosatom and Japan's International Nuclear Energy Development (JINED). However, following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the Assembly voted in 2016 to suspend construction of the plants.