Thailand is moving ahead with plans for its first nuclear reactor. State utility EGAT has launched a pre-feasibility study for a 300 MW small modular reactor (SMR), with commercial operation scheduled for 2037.
The estimated investment is 60-70 billion baht. EGAT is appointing a consulting firm to select the most suitable technology and assess potential sites. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has been identified as a priority candidate, partly because of the high electricity demand from local industry. The final choice will depend on the consultants’ recommendations and on environmental assessments, including seismic stability and the availability of cooling water.
The project is part of the 2026 Power Development Plan (PDP2026). According to Siriwat Chedsi, EGAT’s deputy governor for power plant development, volatility in global fuel prices has boosted interest in SMRs. Upfront construction costs remain high, but over the long term generation costs are insulated from fossil fuel price swings. For a country exposed to liquefied natural gas prices, that matters. The initiative also aims to strengthen energy security and supply low-carbon electricity.
On the technical side, EGAT is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to align technology selection, safety standards and the regulatory framework with international practice. The IAEA has acknowledged that Thailand has already taken its first steps on infrastructure, and has identified workforce training, stakeholder engagement, site selection and financing tools as priorities. Meanwhile, the Office of Atoms for Peace is looking to China, whose nuclear sector is expanding rapidly, for guidance on safety rules for the first SMR. EGAT also plans to propose a dedicated body to oversee implementation of the nuclear programme, in coordination with government agencies.
Thailand is not alone. Interest in nuclear power is growing again across Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. If the timeline holds, the 300 MW unit will serve as a testbed for a larger fleet of modular reactors in the region, with the first technology contracts expected once the consultants’ selection process is complete.
