Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are keen to explore nuclear energy to meet climate commitments and promote energy security, but need to overcome “four main challenges” relating to infrastructure, finance, technical questions and societal concerns.

“The energy needs of our regions are growing, and finding reliable, sustainable solutions is more crucial than ever,” Beni Suryadi, deputy executive director of the Asean Centre for Energy, told a forum in the Indonesia capital Jakarta.

“Nuclear energy, with its potential to provide consistent and low-carbon power, is a topic that we can’t afford to overlook,” Suryadi said.

During the forum the centre launched ‘Asean Energy Booklet Volume 2: Nuclear Energy Development in Asean’, which highlights regional nuclear energy development, nuclear power’s potential role in the region’s energy transition and advancements in nuclear technologies.