Kasikorn Securities (KS) remarked on the positive outlook for SMR, a reliable and low carbon power plant, which is in line with Thailand’s goal of becoming a carbon neutral country.
SMR or Small Modular Reactor is a small nuclear fission reactor designed to be manufactured in a factory and shipped out to be used to power a building or other commercial operation.
KS has pointed out various benefit from the SMR as follows:
- Lower investment cost: due to smaller size in SMR (less than 300MW), it greatly reduces the initial investment cost, making nuclear energy more accessible and can be expanded further.
- Superb installation: the modular construction would allow for manufacture and assembly within a factory, while also making installation quick and easy, reducing construction time.
- Increasing safety: a small reactor would release less heat, lowering the risk of the spread of harmful radiation in case of an accident, making SMR much safer than a traditional nuclear power plant.
The most recent draft for Thailand energy production plan (PDP2024), that was open for opinion in June 2024, which included the utilization of two 300MW SMR, the plan is scheduled to process in 2037.
However, the construction of SMR may not be possible as of now, but the development of the plan itself could be the foundation for the implementation of SMR, showing the path Thailand could take to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, and should be supported with a clear policy and specialized regulation.
If SMR development saw progress in Thailand, the major energy producer within the country such as GPSC, EGCO, RATCH and BPP may take part in the project, seeing the opportunity to replace coal with SMR and help shift the company portfolio to be in accordance with the goal of lowering carbon.
