Bangkok, Thailand – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is promoting U.S. civil nuclear energy technology to support Thailand as it explores development of its first-ever nuclear power project. USTDA signed an agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) for a feasibility study to provide technical analysis of U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) technologies that would generate about 600 megawatts of electricity, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. As Thailand’s economy grows, so does its need for dependable power generation to spur broad-based economic development.,.
“For the United States, this partnership advances our commitment to American innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy. It is part of America’s nuclear renaissance – an era of renewed innovation and investment that is creating new opportunities to deploy advanced technologies at home and around the world,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “It reflects a broader foreign policy priority: working with trusted partners to expand access to reliable energy technologies while strengthening energy security across the Indo-Pacific.”
The USTDA-funded study will help EGAT assess potential locations, costs and the regulatory steps needed to move forward Thailand’s plans for deploying SMR technology. The vendor-neutral study will consider reactor designs made by U.S. companies GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse and X-Energy. The study’s recommendations will create a new pathway for Thailand to develop a secure and diverse energy supply, positioning U.S. companies to play a leading role in building Thailand’s civil nuclear energy infrastructure.
USTDA-funded programming is carried out by U.S. companies. The request for proposals for this study will be posted here: www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
With the country facing growing demand for electricity, the Thai government has identified potential deployment of SMRs as a part of the country’s long-term power development strategy. SMR infrastructure deployment would strengthen the resilience of Thailand’s power grid, support continued economic growth and industrial development, and position the country as a regional leader in advanced energy technology.
Dr. Narin Phoawanich, EGAT’s Governor, said: “This grant represents an important foundation for Thailand to evaluate the potential role of SMR technology in strengthening energy security and supporting a cleaner energy future. We highly value the opportunity to learn from American innovation, expertise and experience while advancing cooperation between our two countries.”
The grant marks an important milestone in the longstanding partnership between Thailand and the United States and will support continued knowledge sharing and collaboration as Thailand carefully considers the potential role of SMR technology in its future energy system.
###
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government’s first mover on critical infrastructure development in emerging markets, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions. USTDA funds the upfront technical work that accelerates the development of infrastructure projects, helping them attract the financing they need for implementation and procurement of U.S. goods and services.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: press@ustda.gov