Could nuclear power fuel Southeast Asia's future?

AWANI

As global tensions reshape the energy landscape, nuclear power is once again in the spotlight. At Singapore International Energy Week 2025, Dr. Sama Bilbao y León of the World Nuclear Association says more countries are turning to nuclear energy to strengthen security and independence.

Transcript

00:00Global tensions are reshaping the energy landscape, and nuclear power is back in focus.

00:05At the Singapore International Energy Week 2025, Dr. Sama Bilbao Ilyon of the World Nuclear Association

00:12says more countries are turning to nuclear to strengthen energy security and independence.

00:19Energy security, energy independence, becoming autonomous and not having to depend on too many other countries for your energy.

00:28So this is part of the reason why many countries are turning to nuclear energy.

00:32Then the other thing that I would say is, despite all these conflicts that you mentioned,

00:38I think that we have been able to stay a little above the politics.

00:44And when it comes to nuclear energy, we still see plenty of global partnerships, international cooperation.

00:51And we see how, and you see this every day, right, how you have nuclear companies from diverse regions

00:59and diverse parts of the world working together.

01:03Dr. Sama says the region, especially Malaysia, has strong potential to develop nuclear capabilities

01:09as part of its long-term clean energy transition.

01:13Malaysia does have nuclear in the 2025 energy plan that was just released a few months ago.

01:23There is a desire to include up to, I believe, 7% of the global, of the Malaysian electricity mix

01:31coming from nuclear energy by 2050.

01:34So the government has currently ambitious plans.

01:38I think that they are hoping to have the first unit operating by 2032 or something like this.

01:45Now, what is the reality of this?

01:48To me, there is obviously a lot of work that needs to happen.

01:52The infrastructure when it comes to regulatory infrastructure, when it comes to workforce,

01:57when it comes to the industrial capabilities that needs to be done.

02:02At the same time, for me, I think that nuclear energy is a very good synergy in this region

02:09because there is a lot of industrial capabilities in the region.

02:13Not nuclear yet, but I think that it is fairly easy to translate those capabilities.

02:20There is a lot of experience with large infrastructure projects.

02:24Translating those capabilities into nuclear is going to be much easier in Southeast Asia

02:30than in other parts of the world.

02:33But as governments explore nuclear options, Dr. Sama says winning public trust

02:38is just as important as building the infrastructures themselves.

02:43Those governments that are seriously considering nuclear energy,

02:47they need to start having a transparent conversation with civil society immediately.

02:52So, all the questions need to be answered, every concern, every fear needs to be explained, dispelled,

03:01and hopefully, if civil society agrees that that's the way they want to go,

03:07then they will go in that direction.

03:09I'll show you when we plan to bring the trabal sofdot.

03:11And then I would be happy that there is one of my campaigns that will be done.

03:13i

03:14What's happening?

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