Southeast Asian states interested in acquiring nuclear energy may take lessons from the cumulative experience of 31 nuclear-powered states gained over the past 60 years. They need to study evolving international frameworks on safety regulation, human resources development and waste management.

Nuclear power is now enjoying a period of popularity worldwide, particularly in Asia. While the Fukushima accident in 2011 tempered what could have been an unprecedented nuclear energy growth in the region, the global nuclear industry is now pinning its hopes on Asian economies, as highlighted in the recently concluded Nuclear Power Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

There are now 439 nuclear reactors operated by 31 countries; two-thirds of the 69 nuclear reactors under construction are in Asia, led by China, India and South Korea. A growing number of countries in Southeast Asia are considering building nuclear power plants to meet increasing energy needs of their growing economies while decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions.

…Julius Cesar I. Trajano is Senior Analyst with the Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.