The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is evaluating small modular reactors (SMRs) as a draft power plan targets the first plant's operation by 2037 amid concern over volatile natural gas prices.
The proposed Power Development Plan 2026–2050 assigns 300 megawatts of SMR capacity to its 2026–2037 phase, the Energy Policy and Planning Office said. Egat says the draft envisages 9,000 megawatts of SMR capacity across the full plan period. The 2037 date is a planning target; Egat says development depends on a future decision.
Egat joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an Oct. 26 workshop on preparations for a possible project. Discussions addressed how to assess a plant, prepare workers, develop safety culture and involve the public. Egat framed those steps as preparation if Thailand chooses to proceed.
A separate Sept. 14 agreement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) funds a feasibility study of U.S. reactor technologies representing about 600 megawatts. The study will weigh possible locations, project costs and regulatory requirements. Its scope differs from the draft plan's initial 300-megawatt phase and does not constitute construction approval.
USTDA said the study could position U.S. companies to play a leading role in Thailand's nuclear infrastructure. Egat Governor Narin Phoawanich said the grant would help Thailand evaluate the potential role of SMR technology.
Egat has cited Thailand's reliance on natural gas and its exposure to swings in global liquefied natural gas prices as reasons to consider SMRs. It has also presented nuclear power as a possible source of continuous, low-carbon electricity as renewable generation grows.
The Office of Atoms for Peace, Thailand's nuclear safety regulator, is developing licensing and safety criteria for SMRs. That regulatory work is separate from Egat's technology study, while a decision on whether to develop a plant remains ahead.
