Southeast Asia-Data Centers-Nuclear Power

FILE -Protesters hold a sign during a rally against the restart of the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, in front of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) headquarters in Tokyo, Jan. 19, 2026.

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Southeast Asia revisits nuclear power plans for AI data centers as Iran war disrupts energy supplies

Southeast Asia revisits nuclear power plans for AI data centers as Iran war disrupts energy supplies

Nuclear power is getting a second look across Southeast Asia to prepare for surging demand for power for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Analysts say the Iran war energy crisis is also adding momentum to nuclear interest and action in the region. Countries are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and many have set ambitious targets. If met, nuclear energy will be added to national power grids across half of Southeast Asia in the 2030s. Nations like Malaysia say nuclear can satisfy the region's energy-hungry data center industry, which has caught the eye of tech giants like Microsoft, Google and Nvidia, without raising carbon emissions. But longstanding concerns around atomic energy remain.