The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has advanced plans to introduce commercial nuclear energy, targeting the deployment of Thailand’s first 300 MWe small modular reactor (SMR) by 2037. This project is a cornerstone of Thailand’s draft Power Development Plan (PDP 2026). It represents a strategic push to secure clean, stable base-load electricity and reduce the country’s reliance on volatile global liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices.
A single 300 MWe plant is planned for grid connection by 2037, estimated to cost THB60-70bn t ($1.8bn). Under current planning scenarios, Thailand aims to progressively expand its nuclear capacity to 9,000 MWe by 2050, which would account for roughly 16–18% of the electricity generation mix.
Feasibility studies are prioritising locations with robust transmission grids, strict seismic stability, and abundant water supplies, with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) standing out as a primary candidate zone.
In September, Egat signed an agreement with the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to fund a technology-neutral feasibility study. This framework explores SMR designs from seven American companies. These include GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300; NuScale Power’s VOYGR light water reactor; Westinghouse’s AP300 pressurised water reactor (PWR); TerraPower’s Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with a molten salt energy storage system; X-Energy’s Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor; Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature (KP-FHR) reactor; and Holtec International’s SMR-300 PWR.
To manage local public sensitivities, the Nuclear Energy for Peace Commission (NEPC) is currently structuring a national regulatory framework modelled after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines. EGAT is also working closely with IAEA to chart safety and workforce regulatory infrastructure.
To manage the initiative transparently, EGAT and the Energy Ministry plan to propose a dedicated Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation to act as a specialised atomic regulatory body.
“SMRs are widely regarded around the world as a promising and reliable source of low-carbon electricity,” said Siriwat Chedsi, EGAT’s Deputy Governor for power plant development and renewable energy during the Strengthening Thailand’s SMR Pathway: Strategy and Project Implementation conference, co-organised in October by EGAT and IAEA.
The event was aimed to enhance understanding of SMR technology among Thailand’s energy agencies as the country prepares for the potential deployment of SMR power plants.
“We are committed to ensuring that Thailand systematically develop knowledge and institutional capabilities. This is essential for evaluating all appropriate energy options and supporting well-informed decision-making,” said Sompop Pattanariyankool, deputy Permanent Secretary at the Energy Ministry, who presided over the conference.
While US options are under early analytical review, Thailand also remains open to evaluations from alternate global suppliers in China, South Korea, and Canada.
While the US has secured a high-profile, federally funded feasibility study through EGAT, Thailand is actively keeping its options wide open.
The Thai government and EGAT are pursuing a multi-track diplomatic and commercial strategy, evaluating SMR designs from at least 18 different countries.
EGAT signed a cooperation framework with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in 2024. It is studying Chinese SMR technology, including the Linglong One (ACP100) design, which is the world’s first commercial onshore SMR to enter construction.
EGAT also signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power KHNP in 2025. South Korea is positioning itself as a geopolitical “third option” for Southeast Asian nations seeking Western-style top-tier nuclear safety standards without total strategic dependency on the US.
Through its subsidiary Global Power Synergy (GPSC), Thailand is studying advanced floating nuclear technologies with Denmark’s Saltfoss Energy (formerly Seaborg). They are evaluating compact molten salt reactors (CMSR) built directly onto power barges.
Thailand has also maintained contacts with Russia. In October Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk held a high-profile meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House. Overchuk explicitly highlighted Russia’s operating SMR expertise and offered to share knowledge and technology to support Thailand’s green transition.
In September, Ambassador Evgeny Tomikhin hosted a dedicated media briefing in Bangkok. He formally proposed bilateral SMR cooperation, pointing out that Russia was currently the only country with active, commercially working SMR units. He also noted that President Vladimir Putin had directly pitched this technology to the Thai delegation at the Russia-ASEAN summit earlier in June.
The very first meeting of the official Joint Russia-Thailand Working Group on Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy was held in Bangkok in 2015 to outline basic scientific frameworks.The previous year Rosatom and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) signed a MOU in Vienna establishing the initial parameters for fundamental research, personnel training, and nuclear safety protocols.
However, the US-Thailand Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (123 Agreement), which entered into force in 2025 with a 30-year lifespan is a legally binding document, while Russian MOUs are simply diplomatic initiatives with no legal force.
On the other hand, the US 123 Agreement dictates severe legal penalties if Thailand redistributes technology or handles nuclear waste incorrectly. It functions purely as a top-down regulatory gatekeeper.
While the US approach is bound by strict federal statutes, China’s approach relies heavily on highly institutionalised, technical joint ventures that bypass Western regulatory bottlenecks.
Thailand and China have signed a formal MOU on Peaceful Nuclear Technology and an SMR Cooperation Agreement. Rather than imposing restrictive top-down security laws, China builds deep institutional ties from the ground up.
In September, CNNC and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) launched the China-Thailand Small Modular Reactor Joint Laboratory in Bangkok. Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) is directly adopting China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration protocols for licensing, safety codes, and emergency drills.
So, while the US framework is a legal licence to buy, the Chinese framework is an operational blueprint to build. For now, however, Thailand remains in the preparatory stage, with potential sites, reactor technologies, costs and regulatory requirements still under review. It remains to be seen, which path Thailand will choose to follow.
