Key Takeaways
- • Nuclear Futures 2026, a cross-cutting dialogue event organized by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and scheduled for June 30–July 2 in Manila, Philippines, has been postponed due to the declaration of a National Energy Emergency in the Philippines.
- • The event was designed to convene regional and international stakeholders to address technical capabilities, workforce development, and social license requirements for nuclear energy deployment across Southeast Asia.
- • Multiple Southeast Asian countries—including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam—are advancing nuclear energy plans, with the Philippines exploring revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and small modular reactor feasibility studies.
- • The NEA remains committed to the initiative and will coordinate with Philippine colleagues to maintain collaborative engagement on nuclear sector development in the region.
- • Beyond power generation, the event scope encompasses non-power nuclear applications including nuclear medicine, agricultural applications, mining research reactors, and emergency preparedness capabilities critical to regional development.
Summary
The Nuclear Futures 2026 event, a flagship dialogue initiative organized by the Nuclear Energy Agency through its Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy, has been postponed following the Philippines' declaration of a National Energy Emergency. Originally scheduled for June 30–July 2, 2026, in Manila, the event was positioned as a platform for intergenerational dialogue on nuclear energy's role in Southeast Asia's evolving energy landscape. The NEA stated its commitment to working closely with Philippine colleagues to ensure continued collaborative engagement and rescheduling of the forum.
The inaugural Nuclear Futures event held in Sydney, Australia in 2025 highlighted substantial momentum across Southeast Asia for nuclear sector development. Multiple countries in the region are at various stages of advancing nuclear energy integration into their national energy systems. The Philippines' agenda centers on feasibility assessments for small modular reactors and consideration of reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are similarly pursuing renewed commitments to nuclear energy capacity development. Beyond conventional power generation, the region is exploring non-power nuclear applications including medical isotopes, agricultural research, mining reactor facilities, and emergency preparedness capabilities.
The event's three-day format, organized in collaboration with the NICE Future initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial, was designed to address critical infrastructure gaps in the nuclear sector. Regional collaboration among countries initiating new nuclear programs and established nuclear powers—including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States—is identified as essential for building technical capabilities, developing a skilled workforce, and establishing the social license necessary for sustained nuclear energy deployment across Southeast Asia. The postponement does not alter the NEA's strategic focus on fostering this regional dialogue.
The inaugural Nuclear Futures event held in Sydney, Australia in 2025 highlighted substantial momentum across Southeast Asia for nuclear sector development. Multiple countries in the region are at various stages of advancing nuclear energy integration into their national energy systems. The Philippines' agenda centers on feasibility assessments for small modular reactors and consideration of reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are similarly pursuing renewed commitments to nuclear energy capacity development. Beyond conventional power generation, the region is exploring non-power nuclear applications including medical isotopes, agricultural research, mining reactor facilities, and emergency preparedness capabilities.
The event's three-day format, organized in collaboration with the NICE Future initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial, was designed to address critical infrastructure gaps in the nuclear sector. Regional collaboration among countries initiating new nuclear programs and established nuclear powers—including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States—is identified as essential for building technical capabilities, developing a skilled workforce, and establishing the social license necessary for sustained nuclear energy deployment across Southeast Asia. The postponement does not alter the NEA's strategic focus on fostering this regional dialogue.
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