Photo 1. Group photo with the workshop participants
On 1–2 April 2026, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in collaboration with the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA), co-organised the Workshop on ASEAN Nuclear Pathways: Technology and Sustainable Energy Transition. THosted by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in Hanoi, Viet Nam, with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resource (MOTIR) of the Republic of Korea, the workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts, including representatives of the Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network (NEC-SSN) and Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities Authorities (HAPUA), to explore the role of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition.
Opening the workshop, Nguyen Tai Anh, Vice President of EVN, highlighted Viet Nam’s growing interest in nuclear energy to strengthen energy security while addressing emissions reduction targets. He expressed appreciation to ACE and KNA for their coordination and support.
In his remarks, Mincheol Lee of KNA conveyed his support despite not being able to attend in person. He emphasised that the workshop marks a cornerstone of the ASEAN–Korea Collaboration Initiative on Nuclear Energy, noting Korea’s readiness to share its decades of experience and to serve as a reliable partner for ASEAN countries pursuing nuclear energy development.
Representing ACE, Nadhilah Shani, Head of the Power Generation and Interconnection (PIN) Department at ACE, underscored that ASEAN Member States have begun comprehensive preparations for nuclear energy, including technical assessments, regulatory development, and public engagement. She noted that the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030 continues to recognise Civilian Nuclear Energy (CNE) as a key Programme Area, prioritising human resource development, nuclear literacy, and strengthened regional and international collaboration.
Setting up the scene, Joolie Lim of KNA introduced the ASEAN–Korea Nuclear Collaboration Initiative, a multi-year effort focused on capacity building and joint research. She described the workshop as a pilot activity and an important milestone toward long-term cooperation aligned with the APAEC 2026–2030. Complementing this, Rully Hidayatullah, Senior Officer of PIN at ACE, outlined the priority of the CNE Programme Area under APAEC 2026-2030, ASEAN’s regional nuclear landscape, and the 2026 Priority Energy Deliverables under the Philippines’ Chairship. This includes a study on human resource development and financing for nuclear power plant (NPP) projects, in which the workshop aims to support.
Photo 2. Participants during the workshop.
Day 1 - Session 1: Role of Nuclear in Energy Transition
Moderated by Prof. Bum-Jin Chung of Kyung-Hee University, the first session explored nuclear energy’s role in power systems and decarbonization. Prof. Bum-Jin Chung demonstrated how nuclear power contributes to energy security, industrial growth, and net-zero transitions, citing Korea’s experience where nuclear remains economically competitive compared to other energy sources.
Kang-Jun Lee of KEPCO shared Korea’s experience in building nuclear capacity, while Dr. Sung-Jin Lee of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) presented the development of innovative small modular reactors (i-SMR), including the Smart Net-Zero City model. He noted that Korea targets its first SMR deployment by 2035.
On the other hand, Joolie Lim further discussed the development of a robust nuclear supply chain. She emphasised that localisation requires long-term commitment, strong national policy, technological maturity, and international collaboration. Prof. Yong-soo Hwang of KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School highlighted that for newcomer countries, human resource development is central to nuclear strategies, stressing the importance of integrating technologies and infrastructure through standardization and iterative implementation.
Day 1 Session 2: Safety and Regulatory Frameworks
Moderated by Prof. Bum-Jin Chung, the second session focused on safety and regulatory frameworks. Surik Bznuni of the IAEA outlined international safety standards and milestone approaches for newcomer countries. Taichiro Arahata of TEPCO shared lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi accident, including strengthened regulatory frameworks and enhanced nuclear safety systems in Japan.
Mitsumasa Fujita of the Japan Atomic Power Company discussed challenges in nuclear deployment, including financing, regulatory readiness, and human resource capacity, as well as the importance of nuclear liability regimes aligned with international conventions.
Concluding the first day’s presentations, Prof. Joo-Hyun Moon of Dankook University emphasised that effective radioactive waste management is fundamental to any sustainable nuclear programme. He highlighted the need for national strategies, financing mechanisms, and sustained public trust, noting that no nuclear programme can succeed without a credible waste management framework.
Day 2 – Session 1: Project Development and ASEAN Perspectives
Moderated by Prof. Yong-soo Hwang, the second day began with discussions on NPP project development. Young-Ho Kim of KEPCO E&C explained the importance of comprehensive feasibility studies to assess technical, economic, and strategic viability before committing major investments. He stressed that workforce planning is equally critical for safe and efficient project execution.
Meanwhile, Woo-Yeol Kim elaborated on site evaluation and permitting processes, outlining criteria based on IAEA standards, including safety, security, and environmental considerations, alongside rigorous data collection and regulatory compliance.
Following that, Ji-Woong Roh of KHNP discussed emerging opportunities and challenges in nuclear construction, particularly in adapting evolving technologies such as digitalisation and AI to address increasing project complexities in future NPP projects.
ASEAN country representatives then shared national perspectives. From Viet Nam, Pham Van Mao of EVN presented the Viet Nam’s progress on the Ninh Thuan 1 NPP project, planned at 2.4 GW capacity and expected to be operational by 2037–2038. From Indonesia, Anggoro Wisaksono of PLN Indonesia outlined the country’s long-term nuclear roadmap, positioning nuclear energy as part of future electricity supply and hydrogen production. He emphasized that nuclear development is not only about energy security but also about sustaining long-term economic growth.
From the Philippines, Patrick T. Aquino of the Department of Energy of the Philippines highlighted progress under the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), including regulatory development, nuclear international convention commitments, and site studies, with a target for the country’s first NPP by 2032. Capacity-building initiatives across sectors are also underway. Lastly, from Singapore, Adeline Lim of Energy Market Authority Singapore shared that while earlier studies found large-scale NPPs unviable due to land constraints, Singapore continues to build technical capacity and assess nuclear energy as a potential future option, guided by the IAEA milestone approach.
Day 2 – Session 2: Financing Nuclear Projects
The final session addressed financing and project structuring. Ms. Soo-Yeon Kim of KEPCO outlined key contractual models on NPP projects such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Build-Own-Operate (BOO), and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC). She emphasised that strong government support is essential to reduce risks and attract investment, given the capital-intensive and long-term nature of nuclear projects. Prof. Bum-Jin Chung discussed procurement and risk management, noting that nuclear projects require strict quality control and robust supply chains to prevent risks from substandard components. Strategies such as supplier diversification and digital procurement systems are increasingly important.
Prof. Soo-Jin Park of KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School explained the cost structure of NPPs across their full lifecycle—from capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) to decommissioning. He presented the Barakah NPP in the UAE as a case study, illustrating how standardization, repeat construction, and strong state backing may improve project bankability and reduce costs of NPP project.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Nguyen Tai Anh, who expressed appreciation to all speakers and partners for their contributions. The event marked a significant step in strengthening ASEAN–Korea cooperation and advancing regional readiness for nuclear energy development in support of a sustainable energy transition.
