APAC countries signal shift in nuclear interest and investment

As these countries pursue energy security, decarbonisation efforts and advancements in technology, nuclear technology presents an option as a stable and low-carbon energy source to meet their growing need, with countries such as India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore re-evaluating the role it will have in their energy mix.

Technological innovation, especially in small modular reactors (SMRs), and a growing recognition of nuclear energy’s potential to deliver reliable and low-carbon baseload power, has led to countries in Asia-Pacific not just catching up, but increasingly positioning themselves as a strategic leader in the next generation of nuclear development.

Asia-Pacific, including China, is expected to account for over 60% of global nuclear capacity growth by 2050. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Atomic Energy Agency project global nuclear capacity to rise from an estimated 416 gigawatts (GW) in 2023 to more than 647GW by 2050, with China leading the charge. Southeast Asia is projected to develop 25GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, requiring around US$208 billion in investment.

With Singapore recently joining the growing list of countries exploring nuclear power, this round up assesses the current state of play across APAC.

Vietnam

Vietnam has restarted the Ninh Thuan project with the aim of increasing its installed nuclear capacity from 4GW to 6.5GW, with another 8GW due to be added by 2050. It has also signed a nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding with Russia’s state-owned nuclear agency, Rosatom, and resumed working-level talks with South Korea on nuclear cooperation.

Indonesia

Indonesia is planning for 10GW of nuclear generation capacity by 2040, in what would be its entry into the market. Indonesia’s Energy Council has proposed 29 sites for nuclear power plant construction and is hoping to kickstart its nuclear generation by constructing a reactor on the island of Borneo by 2030 or 2032.

The Philippines

In the Philippines, nuclear is a nascent industry. The Philippine government has a starting target of 1,200 megawatts (MW) and its first operational power plant by 2032 via small modular reactors (SMR), before ultimately aiming to achieve 4,800MW by 2050 by possibly reviving the Bataan plant with South Korea. The country signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with the US last year. 

Singapore 

Singapore also signed a cooperation agreement with the US to access nuclear tech and expertise and is working on "similar cooperation" with other countries with capabilities and experience in civilian nuclear power, especially SMRs. Mott MacDonald was recently appointed by the Singaporean government to study the safety and feasibility of advanced nuclear technologies including SMRs, which could add up to 0.8GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, primarily through SMRs.

Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia 

Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia are all in the early-stage exploration of nuclear energy. Feasibility studies have signalled interest, although no specific timelines or concrete progress are yet in place.

China

China is currently leading the charge globally in nuclear adoption. The country reached 102 nuclear reactors, either operational, under construction or approved, amounting to installed capacity of 113GW by the end of 2024. An additional 10 reactors were approved in 2025 with targets to scale up China’s nuclear capacity to 200GW by 2035. The country is also pioneering next-generation nuclear technologies including The Linglong One, a SMR scheduled for completion by 2026, positioning China to lead the global SMR market.

India

India plans to expand its nuclear capacity from 8.1GW in 2025 to over 22GW by 2031, with further growth expected by 2050. India has focused on developing Bharat SMRs, their own compact reactors, and repurposing coal plants. Amendments to laws including the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act are underway to enable private investment.

Japan

Japan has shifted policy so that renewable energy and nuclear power generation will be “utilised to the maximum extent possible” and reactors are being restarted where safety is confirmed. New builds are allowed on existing plant sites with the aim of restoring nuclear to at least 20% of Japan’s energy mix by 2030, with long-term ambitions to increase this further.

South Korea

South Korea has set a target of a 30% nuclear share of national energy generation capacity by 2030, with continued expansion and export of nuclear technology. The country plans to build three additional reactors by 2038, raising nuclear power’s share of the energy mix to 35.2%, including two large-scale reactors and one SMR set to begin operation in the mid-2030s.

Australia

Australia, unlike its Asia-Pacific neighbours, has placed nuclear energy investment on the backburner and has no nuclear power generating facilities. While a nuclear energy policy framework was introduced in 2025, Australia is instead pursuing decarbonisation through renewable energy projects.

While the resurgence of nuclear energy across Asia-Pacific signals a bold shift toward cleaner and more resilient energy systems, it is not without challenges. Regulatory frameworks remain uneven, public acceptance varies widely, and long-term waste management solutions are still evolving. Financing and supply chain readiness — especially for newer technologies like SMRs — also pose challenges.

Despite these challenges, the region’s proactive stance, technological ambition, and strategic partnerships suggest that nuclear energy will play a growing role in shaping Asia’s energy future as global action on decarbonisation continues to evolve.

Co-written by Amanda Tay of Pinsent Masons.