Advancing Nuclear Readiness for Energy Security and Decarbonisation

Session 1: A resilient and low-carbon Asia: The role of nuclear power

As Asia advances its decarbonisation and energy security goals, nuclear energy is being reassessed as a source of reliable, low-carbon firm power. At the same time, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a potential pathway to enable more flexible and scalable deployment across different market contexts. This session will explore the evolving role of nuclear energy in supporting resilient power systems in Asia, including how it can complement variable renewables and meet rising electricity demand from electrification and new growth sectors. It will also examine how SMRs may influence future system planning, energy security, and investment decisions.

Key Discussions:

• The evolving role of nuclear energy in global and Asian energy security and decarbonisation strategies
• The potential role of SMRs in enabling flexible, scalable nuclear deployment
• Integration of nuclear with renewables in a reliable low-carbon power system

Session 2: Readiness for Nuclear

While interest in nuclear energy is growing, moving from ambition to deployment requires strong enabling conditions beyond technology. These include regulatory readiness, institutional capacity, safety governance, and long-term policy certainty. This session will focus on the practical pathways to nuclear deployment, with emphasis on financing structures, risk allocation, and the role of public and private capital. It will also explore readiness challenges in newcomer countries, including regulatory frameworks, supply chains, and delivery models for emerging technologies such as SMRs.

Key Discussions:

• Readiness conditions for nuclear deployment, including regulatory frameworks, safety governance, and institutional capacity
• Financing approaches and pathways for countries considering pursuing nuclear deployment
• Policy and regulatory readiness, including licensing frameworks