ERIA and IEEJ Convene High-Level Workshop on Nuclear Energy Prospects in ASEAN

Tokyo, 23 June 2026: The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), in collaboration with the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), convened a joint workshop titled 'Emerging Nuclear Energy Market in ASEAN and Possible Contributions from Japan' at the Toranomon Hills Global Square Conference on 23 June 2026.

The workshop brought together regional policymakers, international experts, and industry representatives to discuss the potential role of nuclear energy in strengthening energy security and supporting decarbonisation efforts across Southeast Asia.

Speakers included representatives from the World Nuclear Association and the Nuclear Energy Institute, alongside delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Discussions focused on how rapidly industrialising ASEAN Member States could incorporate nuclear energy into their long-term energy strategies while addressing rising electricity demand and climate-related challenges, including increasing power requirements from data centres.

Participating in the discussions and delivering the closing remarks, Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Senior Research Fellow for Innovation at ERIA, noted that while renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are expected to play a growing role in ASEAN's energy transition, additional low-carbon baseload generation may also be required to support reliable electricity systems.

'To anchor the modern grids of our future, we require a robust, low-carbon baseload power source,' Dr Anbumozhi said, noting that nuclear power plants typically operate at high capacity factors.

He also highlighted the broader economic opportunities associated with nuclear energy development, including employment creation, regional industrial development, and investment in supporting infrastructure, while acknowledging that high capital costs, financing requirements, regulatory preparedness, and public acceptance remain significant challenges.

The workshop also examined emerging technologies, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) such as the BWRX-300 and NuScale designs. Participants discussed their potential applications in ASEAN, particularly for archipelagic countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, where modular deployment could offer greater flexibility than conventional large-scale nuclear power plants.

To complement the policy discussions, participants joined technical visits to nuclear facilities in Japan. Delegates visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to observe ongoing decommissioning activities and learn about the environmental monitoring and safety measures implemented following the 2011 accident. The visit provided participants with an opportunity to examine Japan's experience in nuclear safety, decommissioning, environmental management, and stakeholder engagement.

The delegation also visited the Tokai Daini Nuclear Power Station and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's Oarai Nuclear Engineering Institute, where participants reviewed nuclear research and safety infrastructure and exchanged views on opportunities for regional co-operation in human resource development and capacity building. Discussions also covered international collaboration programmes involving the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum International Cooperation Center.

The workshop and technical visits underscored the importance of combining technological innovation with robust regulatory frameworks, strong safety culture, transparent public engagement, and regional co-operation as ASEAN explores pathways towards a secure, sustainable, and low-carbon energy future.