Bangkok: Policy makers in Asia have been learning about small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a new IAEA initiative to inform governments, regulators, and industry about the technology’s potential role in the energy mix. Hosted by Thailand, the second SMR workshop, known as an SMR School, coincides with the growing momentum behind nuclear energy in Asia and beyond. The region is intensifying efforts on nuclear energy, with Asia responsible for two-thirds of the world’s reactors under construction, predominantly in China, and Uzbekistan starting the construction of SMRs.
According to EMM, while the SMR School was underway in Bangkok from 21-25 July, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Singapore, reaffirming IAEA support for countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that are evaluating nuclear, including SMRs, as part of their clean energy strategies. “The urgency of climate action is greater than ever,” said Rungrueng Kitphati, Acting Secretary General of the OAP. Thailand is actively exploring the role that SMRs can play in the country’s energy mix, committing to building a robust legal, regulatory, and human resource foundation in line with international safety standards.
SMRs are smaller, with lower upfront costs and greater flexibility than traditional nuclear power plants, and are set to widen access to nuclear power. These reactors are under development in several countries, with units already operational in China and the Russian Federation. Interest is growing, following a global consensus on expanding nuclear energy reached at COP28 in Dubai in 2023.
“This school in Thailand was an opportunity to bring support to a new range of countries, from Central and Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Europe,” said Dohee Hahn, Coordinator of the IAEA SMR Platform. Participants included countries only now exploring SMRs and those actively preparing for deployment. Over the five-day program, participants examined the technical, regulatory, economic, and infrastructure aspects of SMR development, including energy system planning, safety and licensing, financing, legal frameworks, waste management, emergency preparedness, and stakeholder engagement. The curriculum was designed to reflect both the opportunities and the practical considerations of adopting SMRs.
A session on the strategic role of SMRs in achieving net zero was also held, with officials from OAP and the Thai Ministry of Energy joined by representatives of the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand, PTT Public Limited Company, and Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited. Liu Hua, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, delivered remarks on behalf of IAEA Director General Grossi.
Participants, such as D. Baltabaev of the Uzatom Atomic Energy Agency of Uzbekistan, which is preparing to deploy its first SMRs, expressed a deeper understanding of the engineering and regulatory aspects of SMRs and confidence in their role as a part of a sustainable, reliable energy future. Noor Mashruddin of Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water found the SMR School to be a valuable learning experience, appreciating the sharing of best practices and feedback from IAEA experts.
Thailand, which previously explored nuclear power, is now revisiting the option in light of changing global and regional dynamics. “There were plans in the past, but they didn’t move forward for various reasons,” said Siriwat Chedsi of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. “Today, things are different. The urgency is real. The technology has improved. That’s why nuclear – specifically SMRs – is once again part of the conversation, with more serious intent than ever before.”
The SMR School is part of a wider package of IAEA support, including the SMR Platform and the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), assisting countries in building the infrastructure needed for SMR development, deployment, and oversight. The next SMR School will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 25-29 August, with additional sessions planned for 2026.