US to help Thailand develop nuclear reactors

The United States will support the development of nuclear power in Thailand through a new class of small reactors, part of a program called the Net Zero World Initiative, which was launched last year by Vice President Kamala Harris on a trip to Glasgow on November 19 The White House said the assistance was part of a program aimed at fighting climate change.

Thailand does not have nuclear power, with the public mood on the issue souring after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

The White House said it would provide technical assistance to the Southeast Asian country to deploy the developing technology of small modular reactors, which are factory-built and portable. Such reactors are generally considered safer as they do not need human intervention to shut down in emergencies.

A senior US official who was with Harris said on condition of anonymity that they look forward to working with Thailand to take advantage of the benefits of small modular reactors and reliable clean energy sources.

A White House statement said that the US experts would work with Thailand on deploying the reactors, which will have the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation and have a smaller land footprint than alternatives.

The prototypes of which are in the design phase are being developed by US rivals China and Russia, as well as Argentina.

The White House said it would support Thailand, which is vulnerable to climate change, in its goal of going carbon neutral by 2065, even though it didn't give a timeline.

Harris, who is visiting the US for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, will talk about the nuclear power initiative in a meeting later Saturday with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The White House also announced an initiative with Thailand to boost the safety of fifth-generation internet and a plan to build a world-class cancer treatment centre in eastern Chonburi province.