The new atomic fever in Southeast Asia
Look, this is interesting. While everyone is talking about renewable energy, Southeast Asia is looking the other way. A very specific side: the atom. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are dusting off old nuclear plans or drawing up new ones.
The reason? An explosive combination. On the one hand, electricity demand is going to skyrocket in the coming years. On the other hand, there is a new energy-hungry player: artificial intelligence.
The data centers that power this technology consume brutal amounts of electricity. And the region wants to be a technological hub. They need a constant, massive source of energy that does not depend on the sun or wind.
Plans on the table
Vietnam has already made a move. It has signed agreements with Russia to build two nuclear plants and has changed its energy laws to give the green light to “strategic” projects. It is an important turn.
Indonesia is going another way. Instead of giant plants, it plans to install small modular reactors by 2034. They are like nuclear power plants in a compact version, supposedly safer and more flexible.
Thailand is not far behind. Its goal is to have 600 megawatts of operational nuclear capacity by 2037.
If all these plans come to fruition, almost half of Southeast Asia could have nuclear power in the next decade. It is a radical change in the global energy map.
What is clear is that the equation has changed. The pressure to decarbonize clashes with the real need to fuel economic and technological growth. And for some governments, the atom appears to be the only answer powerful enough.
