Report Thailand Eyes Small Nuclear Reactors to Boost Clean Energy

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is poised to embrace small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a broader initiative to stabilise power supplies and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This push is gaining traction among key corporations, including Ratch Group, the power arm of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), and Global Power Synergy Plc, a PTT Plc subsidiary.

 

The move aligns with governmental efforts to diminish carbon emissions from fossil fuel-dependent power plants. Global Power Synergy has already embarked on a feasibility study, driven by increasing energy demands and its commitment to decarbonisation.

 

In anticipation of an influential seminar named “A Global Dialogue on SMR Deployment”, an anonymous electricity executive shared insights into the state and private sector's receptiveness towards nuclear technology. The seminar, scheduled for 16th July in Bangkok, is co-sponsored by Ratch and Saha Pathanapibul International, and aims to update stakeholders on SMR trends and foster discussions among experts and nuclear enthusiasts.

 

An SMR boasts a capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, about a third of traditional nuclear reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Proponents argue that SMRs could be a game-changer in Thailand's energy sector by offering a safer and more efficient alternative.

 

"We hope to educate the public on SMRs prior to implementing the power development plan [PDP]," added the executive. The PDP, commencing in 2024 and running until 2037, envisages the development of two SMRs, each with a 300MW capacity, likely managed by Egat.

 

Thailand’s historical brush with nuclear power began in the 1970s but was shelved following the discovery of natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand. The inclusion of nuclear power in the 2010 PDP, intending to begin a 2,000MW nuclear project by 2020, was abandoned after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

 

Experts believe SMRs promise enhanced safety features, such as natural circulation and gravity-driven systems for heat removal, which mitigate the risks posed by power outages that impair cooling in conventional reactors. Additionally, some SMRs are designed to utilise fuel from reprocessed spent nuclear materials, addressing concerns about nuclear waste management.

 

As Thailand explores nuclear technology anew, SMRs appear to offer a promising path towards cleaner and more reliable energy. The coming years will reveal how this potential transition unfolds, impacting both the nation's energy landscape and its environmental commitments.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-14

 

 

[Felton Jarvis]

Just what Thailand needs to justify more taxes.

[terryq]

Great idea. One per province.

 

What could possibly go wrong ??

 

 

[newbee2022]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is poised to embrace small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a broader initiative to stabilise power supplies and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This push is gaining traction among key corporations, including Ratch Group, the power arm of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), and Global Power Synergy Plc, a PTT Plc subsidiary.

 

The move aligns with governmental efforts to diminish carbon emissions from fossil fuel-dependent power plants. Global Power Synergy has already embarked on a feasibility study, driven by increasing energy demands and its commitment to decarbonisation.

 

In anticipation of an influential seminar named “A Global Dialogue on SMR Deployment”, an anonymous electricity executive shared insights into the state and private sector's receptiveness towards nuclear technology. The seminar, scheduled for 16th July in Bangkok, is co-sponsored by Ratch and Saha Pathanapibul International, and aims to update stakeholders on SMR trends and foster discussions among experts and nuclear enthusiasts.

 

An SMR boasts a capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, about a third of traditional nuclear reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Proponents argue that SMRs could be a game-changer in Thailand's energy sector by offering a safer and more efficient alternative.

 

"We hope to educate the public on SMRs prior to implementing the power development plan [PDP]," added the executive. The PDP, commencing in 2024 and running until 2037, envisages the development of two SMRs, each with a 300MW capacity, likely managed by Egat.

 

Thailand’s historical brush with nuclear power began in the 1970s but was shelved following the discovery of natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand. The inclusion of nuclear power in the 2010 PDP, intending to begin a 2,000MW nuclear project by 2020, was abandoned after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

 

Experts believe SMRs promise enhanced safety features, such as natural circulation and gravity-driven systems for heat removal, which mitigate the risks posed by power outages that impair cooling in conventional reactors. Additionally, some SMRs are designed to utilise fuel from reprocessed spent nuclear materials, addressing concerns about nuclear waste management.

 

As Thailand explores nuclear technology anew, SMRs appear to offer a promising path towards cleaner and more reliable energy. The coming years will reveal how this potential transition unfolds, impacting both the nation's energy landscape and its environmental commitments.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-14

 

 

i hope they don't have the money for this dead end street project.

[Lacessit]

The average life of a power plant is about 50 years.

 

During that time, the construction materials surrounding the core become so irradiated, the only thing that can be done is to seal the structure off with a sarcophagus of concrete.

 

Nuclear reactors generate low-level, medium, and high level waste during the fission process. These wastes require storage from anywhere between a few weeks to 240,000 years as they decay.

 

There is nothing clean about nuclear reactors.

[MarkBR]

3 hours ago, terryq said:

Great idea. One per province.

 

What could possibly go wrong ??

 

 

Should put one under the Parliament building

[black tabby12345]

The PDP, commencing in 2024 and running until 2037

 

Any nukes in this kingdom?

12 yeas to reach minimum safe distance.

[black tabby12345]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

There is nothing clean about nuclear reactors.

 

Exactly.

Cancer and lukemia rate in the area around Three Mile Island accident(3/28, 1979), are said to be 100 times higher than US average...

[Celsius]

[black tabby12345]

4 hours ago, terryq said:

Great idea. One per province.

 

What could possibly go wrong ??

 

 

 

Could  mean 76 mushroom clouds.

 

Expense cut-out.

Resulting shoddy construction works.

Workers and technicians drunk/drugged on duty.

 

The perfect Chernobyl triangle... 

 

[black tabby12345]

10 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

Reasonable concern.

Can only imagine that...

[Yagoda]

Modular nuclear reactors are safe. Texas has several companies getting ready to make them

[black tabby12345]

32 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

Should put one under the Parliament building

 

And they will secretly draw the Vip-Only evacuation procedure.

Helicopter from the house garden to Sattahip Naval Base where their only aircraft carrier is harbored.

 

[novacova]

25 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

16 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Could  mean 76 mushroom clouds.

 

15 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Reasonable concern.

Can only imagine that...

Nuclear reactors do not react in such a way.

[NoDisplayName]

32 minutes ago, novacova said:

Nuclear reactors do not react in such a way.

 

Thailand will finally succeed.

 

"Hub of nukular reactors reacting in such a way."

[ericthai]

1 hour ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Exactly.

Cancer and lukemia rate in the area around Three Mile Island accident(3/28, 1979), are said to be 100 times higher than US average...

Not true..

 

https://www.science.org/content/article/three-mile-islands-cancer-legacy

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident_health_effects

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1469835/

 

 

 

[Yagoda]

2 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Should put one under the Parliament building

No, my condo is near there

[JimHuaHin]

Considering Thailand's construction efficiency and general safety record, this is not a good idea.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, terryq said:

Great idea. One per province.

 

What could possibly go wrong ??

 

 

Chinese influence

[mfd101]

Basically a good idea. The Liberals in Oz are (probably) heading down that path when (if ever) they get back into government.

 

The worry in Thailand would be the levels of competence and maintenance available short-term and long-term ...

[Peterphuket]

12 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Modular nuclear reactors are safe. Texas has several companies getting ready to make them

Also, take France as an example, they have only had nuclear reactors for many decades.

[Caldera]

What could possibly go wrong? Thailand doesn't even have safe zebra crossings. 

[Srikcir]

 

Start with some knowledge:

Small Modular Reactors explained, 

https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/nuclear-energy/small-modular-reactors/small-modular-reactors-explained_en

• "SMRs safety principles mostly rely on simple phenomena like natural circulation for the cooling of the reactor core, even during incident or accident situations requiring very limited, or even no operators' actions to bring the reactor to a safe state in case of need."

Sounds like Thailand can handle such technology safely.

 

[lordgrinz]

Based on the total lack of safety practiced by the citizens of Thailand, this should be one of the last places on Earth that anyone should ever consider installing a nuclear reactor.  

[Look Chang]

I suppose that the first nuclear power plant will be between Bangkok and Pattaya, which need so much electricity to energize their nightlife. Uh, I will probably end up spending my retirement in Phuket or Chiang Rai, I don't know yet.

[ujayujay]

OMG🫣🫣🫣

[KhunBENQ]

58 minutes ago, Look Chang said:

I suppose that the first nuclear power plant will be between Bangkok and Pattaya, which need so much electricity to energize their nightlife. Uh, I will probably end up spending my retirement in Phuket or Chiang Rai, I don't know yet.

Siam Paragon mall needs more power than a complete province in the poorest regions.

Bet Icon Siam will be no less.

[thongplay]

Needed to power the casino.

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, thongplay said:

Needed to power the casino.

 

More than likely will power Google and Microsoft servers when all is said and done, which is why they are even being mentioned.

[KhunBENQ]

15 hours ago, novacova said:

 

 

Nuclear reactors do not react in such a way.

Don't spoil the mood with facts 😁

Fukushima was just a "lid flying off".

And what does Japan do?

Fukushima has reactors in operation and no plan to shut down. Just the opposite.

 

Tchernobyl was the result of total incompetency. A "nightly test run" going wild.

Fukushima could have been less catastrophic if not handled incompetent.