Picture 1. Group photo of the NEC-SSN delegates at the 16th NEC-SSN Meeting.
19 May, Manilla, Philippines. The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) successfully organised the 16th Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network (NEC-SSN) meeting – building on the momentum of the Nuclear Workshop on 18 May 2026. The hybrid meeting convened the NEC-SSN Focal Points from the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), the ASEANTOM Secretariat, Dialogue Partners (DPs), and International Organisations (IOs), to discuss nuclear development, cooperation, and deployment in the region, aligned with the ASEAN Plan of Action (APAEC) 2026-2030 on Programme Area 7: Civilian Nuclear Energy (CNE). Highlighted within the meeting are updates on CNE related activities, the preliminary findings of nuclear energy in the region, as well as the proposal of activities from DPs and IOs.
Picture 2. Patrick T. Aquino CESO III, as the NEC-SSN Chair & Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, delivering their opening remarks
To open the meeting, Patrick T. Aquino CESO III, Director of the Energy Utilisation and Management Bureau (EUMB), Department of Energy (DOE) of Philippines, as the NEC-SSN Chair and Host Country, welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in supporting ASEAN’s growing interest in CNE, as well as to advance its development – a sentiment that was shared by the Executive Director of ACE, Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood. At the start of the meeting the ASEAN Secretariat provided updates on relevant ASEAN-level developments, including the adoption of the ASEAN 2045 Power Shared Future, APAEC 2026-2030 implementation, and ongoing collaboration under the ASEAN and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Practical Arrangement.
To assess the current trajectory of CNE in the region, Rully Hidayatullah, Senior Research Analyst on Nuclear at ACE, disseminated the recommendations of the Workshop on Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Deployment: Project Financing and Human Resource Development Strategies for ASEAN, held prior to the meeting, which highlighted six (6) important aspects to CNE deployment, including financing, public engagement, legal and regulatory, human resources, and technology. The findings also underscored the need for long-term workforce planning, knowledge sharing mechanisms, and strengthened cooperation among AMS.
Following that, the Meeting also received updates from the ASEANTOM Secretariat on ongoing activities conducted by their five working groups related to nuclear safety, security, safeguards, emergency preparedness, and technical cooperation. One of the key highlights of the meeting was ACE’s presentation on the preliminary findings from the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9). Through this presentation, Ilham Rizaldi, Energy Modeller of ACE highlighted the potential role of nuclear energy in supporting ASEAN’s long-term energy security and decarbonisation objectives and the importance of supporting associated activities to enable future nuclear deployment.
Rully also presented updates on the ASEAN Nuclear Power Plant Financing and Human Resource Development (HRD) Study, as one of the ASEAN Philippines’ Chairship Annual Priority in 2026. The study seeks to identify financing approaches, policy and regulatory bottlenecks to support bankability of NPP deployment, and workforce development strategies necessary to support the successful deployment of CNE programmes in ASEAN, and is planned to be officially launched at the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM). Lastly, ACE reported on the progress of activities for 2027. These initiatives support the implementation of the CNE Programme Area under APAEC 2026-2030, and reflect ASEAN's continued efforts to strengthen knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, and institutional capacity in the nuclear sector.
The meeting also featured presentations from DPs and IOs on potential areas of cooperation under CNE with ASEAN. The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC), Korean Nuclear Association (KNA), ROSATOM, World Nuclear Association (WNA), Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Security of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (ISCN/JAEA), and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN presented various initiatives focusing on capacity building, HRD, nuclear safety and security, as well as emerging technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Several proposed programmes also highlighted opportunities for joint studies, training activities, workshops, study visits, and knowledge-sharing platforms to support ASEAN’s nuclear energy ambitions.
The 16th NEC-SSN Meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen regional cooperation and partnership in support of ASEAN’s CNE development. Through continued collaboration among AMS, DPs, and IOs, the region aims to enhance its readiness and capacity to explore CNE as part of a secure, sustainable, and low-carbon energy future. As a way forward, ACE remains committed to facilitating regional dialogue, advancing evidence-based studies and capacity building initiatives, to implement tailored specific programmes dynamic to the ASEAN energy landscape, and fostering strategic partnerships that support the implementation of CNE aligned with APAEC 2026-2030 and ASEAN’s long-term energy transition objectives.
