An alternative source

Having an alternative source of baseload power reduces reliance on other countries and shields countries from price swings, he said.

He said that Asia's dependence on gas imports, which are rising in price, could also make nuclear energy a more competitive energy source.

Interest in nuclear energy has been surging in the region. Countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have included nuclear in their power development plans and are advancing feasibility studies, preparatory work and international cooperation, said an International Energy Agency spokesperson.

Among recent developments, Vietnam signed an agreement on March 23 with Russia to construct a power plant featuring two reactors with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Vietnam aims to bring its first nuclear power plant online as early as 2030.

Malaysia said on March 27 that it is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of its potential nuclear energy program after embedding nuclear energy into its 13th Malaysia Plan in July 2025.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said that the need to evaluate the feasibility of nuclear energy is increasingly relevant amid a changing global energy landscape shaped by geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuations in fuel supply and prices, national news agency Bernama reported.

Singapore has been studying the deployment of nuclear energy through commissioned studies on various fronts, including advanced nuclear technology, and has inked international partnerships with other countries to learn more about the latest nuclear technologies and scientific research.

Indonesia and Japan in March agreed to collaborate on nuclear energy, including possibly building a nuclear power plant in Indonesia's West Kalimantan Province on the island of Borneo.

"Taken together, the region is not yet building nuclear plants, but it is clearly moving from initial interest toward institutionalization, with policies, targets and international agreements beginning to take shape," said Tan-Soo.

Victor Nian, founding cochair of independent think tank Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, said the conflict is a "wake-up call" for many countries to rethink their heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly imports from the Middle East.

"In the short term, there is nothing much we can do but to ride out the storm," he said.

"When looking long term, I'm sure nuclear energy and potentially even coal are among the top strategic options being seriously considered by ASEAN countries … Energy transition of the future might not be solely focused on decarbonization, but energy security and economic security."

Some countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, have pivoted to coal as a fallback.

For example, plans are being made to revive the retired Mae Moh coal-fired power plant in Thailand, while Indonesia has decided to ramp up coal output.

Although coal offers a cheaper and more accessible alternative that can help make up for fuel shortages, it is the most-polluting fossil fuel.