Move follows Asian bank’s recent policy recognition of nuclear energy
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed an agreement to cooperate on nuclear energy in Asia and the Pacific regions, a statement said.
ADB president Masato Kanda said the agreement follows the bank’s updated energy policy, which recognises nuclear power as an option for baseload generation.
Earlier this week the ADB said it had updated a 2021 energy policy in a move that paved the way for the bank to support nuclear power, including first-time investment in the energy source.
Kanda said the agreement with the IAEA aims is to help countries that choose nuclear power to adopt strong safeguards, good governance, and sustainable practices.
“We are committed to helping the region make informed choices that balance the need for energy access with the imperative of energy security and a sustainable future,” Kanda said.
IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi said the partnership will support countries facing rising energy needs and looking at nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors.
ADB is the first regional development bank to establish such a cooperation framework with the IAEA, said the statement.
The organisations said they will work together on energy planning, fuel cycle and waste management, and nuclear facility life cycle management. The IAEA will provide expertise on safety, security, safeguards, and stakeholder engagement.
Grossi said IAEA teams will now begin work to develop “concrete initiatives.”
ADB said the partnership combines its experience in financing and governance with the IAEA’s technical expertise. Both sides will also continue joint work on non-energy applications, including initiatives to tackle marine pollution and microplastics.
Founded in 1966, ADB has 69 members and supports sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific.
According to the bank, its commitments to energy projects amounted to about $3.8bn (€3.2bn) in 2024.
In June 2025, the World Bank signed an agreement with the IAEA to cooperate on the development and financing of nuclear power in developing countries potentially covering both large and small-scale reactor projects.
The agreement followed the World Bank lifting a long-held ban on the financing of nuclear projects in the same month.
Several countries in Asia and the Pacific are assessing nuclear energy for future deployment, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, alongside established nuclear operators such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea.
