U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA): Promoting U.S. Civil Nuclear Energy Technology, Supporting Thailand's First Nuclear Power Project

On September 14, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) announced the promotion of U.S. civil nuclear energy technology to support Thailand in assessing the feasibility of building its first nuclear power project. USTDA signed a feasibility study agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) aimed at conducting a technical analysis of U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The project is planned to have a generating capacity of approximately 600 megawatts (600 MW), sufficient to meet the electricity needs of hundreds of thousands of households. As Thailand's economy grows, demand for reliable power is increasing to support broader economic development.

“For the United States, this cooperation advances our commitment to innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy. This is part of the U.S. ‘nuclear renaissance’——an era of renewed innovation and investment that creates new opportunities for deploying advanced technologies at home and around the world,” said Thomas R. Hardy, Deputy Director of USTDA. “This reflects a broader foreign policy priority: working with trusted partners to expand access to reliable energy technologies while enhancing energy security in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The USTDA-funded study will help EGAT assess potential sites, costs, and the regulatory steps needed to advance the deployment of SMR technology in Thailand. This vendor-neutral study will comprehensively evaluate reactor designs from multiple U.S. companies, including: GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse, and X-Energy. The recommendations from the study will open new pathways for Thailand to build a safe and diversified energy supply, while helping U.S. companies take a leading position in building Thailand's civil nuclear energy infrastructure.

The USTDA-funded project will be executed by a U.S. company. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the study will be published on its official website: www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.

Facing growing electricity demand, the Thai government has made the deployment of SMRs part of its long-term power development strategy. The deployment of SMR infrastructure will enhance the resilience of Thailand's power grid, support sustained economic growth and industrial development, and help Thailand become a regional leader in advanced energy technology.

Dr. Narin Phoawanich, Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), said: “This grant lays an important foundation for Thailand to assess the potential role of SMR technology in strengthening energy security and supporting a clean energy future. We greatly value the opportunity to learn from U.S. innovation, expertise, and experience, while deepening cooperation between our two countries.”

This grant marks an important milestone in the long-standing U.S.-Thailand partnership and will continue to support knowledge sharing and collaboration, helping Thailand carefully assess the potential positioning of SMR technology in its future energy system.