Why Is Southeast Asia Turning To Nuclear Power?

Governments across Southeast Asia are eyeing nuclear energy as a means to fuel rapid growth while also meeting ambitious climate goals. But critics say they should instead be focusing on exploiting abundant renewable sources.

- Karl Sexton

Southeast Asia's only nuclear power plant is located in the province of Bataan in the Philippines, around 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the capital, Manila.

Built in the 1970s, the Bataan facility was mothballed before it ever opened amid the political instability of the end of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship — and in the wake of the 1986 disaster at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which killed at least 30 people and spewed radioactive fallout over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

But now, under the government of the late dictator's son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the Philippines is turning to nuclear power as one solution to satisfying the country's rapidly growing energy demand, and as a way of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and thereby curbing harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In February, Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said his country was "paving the way for a safe, sustainable, and responsible nuclear energy program that will secure our nation's energy future."

Why nuclear power?

The Philippines and Indonesia are leading the surge in coal dependency in Southeast Asia, according to London-based energy think tank Ember, which pointed out that the Philippines was Southeast Asia's most coal-dependent country in 2023.

Given the global push to cut GHG emissions, the appeal of nuclear power is clear.

Nuclear energy itself produces almost zero carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, as well as any other pollutants associated with burning gas or coal.

The Philippines is aiming to gradually phase in nuclear power as part of its energy mix. Starting with a target of 1,200 megawatts (MW) of capacity in 2032, the country hopes nuclear energy will provide 4,800 MW by 2050.