About this episode

The episode discusses the reconsideration of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia, focusing on its political sensitivity, public trust, and the upcoming assessment of Singapore's nuclear infrastructure readiness.

What's more controversial than coal, harder to build than a dam, and suddenly, back on Southeast Asia's policy agenda? Nuclear. For years, it was too politically sensitive. Too scary and too expensive. But now, demand from industry, data centres and urbanisation is making it necessary for governments to look again. Renewables can definitely help, but they have limits. So nuclear, especially Small Modular Reactors, is being reconsidered.  In Singapore, the issue is also moving from hypothetical debate to formal assessment. From 2027, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts will assess Singapore's nuclear infrastructure readiness. Though the government has emphasised that this is not a decision to adopt nuclear, but part of a rigorous three-phase assessment. So nuclear isn't just an engineering question. It's about trust, safety, public fear, and what happens when risk crosses borders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Topics covered

• nuclear energy
• Southeast Asia
• public trust
• policy assessment
• Small Modular Reactors

Keywords

• nuclear
• Southeast Asia
• policy
• public trust
• Small Modular Reactors
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• energy infrastructure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency

Places: Singapore, Southeast Asia

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