The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is advancing feasibility studies into the building of the nation's first 300-megawatt Small Modular Reactor (SMR) by 2037, backed by an estimated budget of 60-70 billion baht, officials announced on Monday.
Siriwat Chedsi, EGAT's deputy governor for power plant development and renewable energy, stated yesterday that volatile global fuel prices have increased interest in SMR technology. While upfront construction costs remain high, SMRs offer long-term generation costs that are immune to global fossil fuel price swings, ensuring stable power prices and market competitiveness.
The pilot plant aligns with the draft Power Development Plan (PDP2026).
EGAT is hiring a consulting firm to select the optimal SMR technology and assess suitable locations, with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) identified as a top-priority candidate.
Candidate sites must feature robust infrastructure, a sufficient water supply, a strong transmission grid and immunity to seismic and natural disaster risks.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) representative Anna Jaison noted that 38 countries worldwide have committed to tripling their nuclear capacity by 2050.
Regional peers, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, are also dusting off their own nuclear initiatives.
The IAEA noted that Thailand has made initial infrastructure preparations, but highlighted the need to focus on workforce development, stakeholder engagement, site selection, industry involvement and financing mechanisms.
