From Fission Readiness to Future Fusion Pathways in ASEAN

The global race to commercialize fusion energy is currently dominated by North American and European startups. The development has been massive in the past year, raising a question: can other countries enter the conversation? Developed economies like the ASEAN region might have the chance to enter the market since they’re the rapidly industrialized nations with immense potential.

Each year, there’s a rise in the number of energy demands in ASEAN and now the region is trying to find cleaner solutions for that. The region's current aggressive pivot toward fission-based Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is the clearest sign yet that the regulatory and industrial groundwork is being laid for the eventual adoption of fusion. But can ASEAN truly become part of this next-generation energy landscape?

Fusion Interest Expands Beyond Traditional Powerhouses

While fusion was once the exclusive domain of major research economies, the landscape is changing. Commercial fusion is moving faster than expected, with private startups hitting engineering milestones, governments increasing investment, and early fusion pilot plant timelines now targeting the 2030s.

This acceleration opens the door for new regions. Fusion is no longer just high-budget physics; it is becoming an industrial and supply-chain-driven sector. This shift favors countries that are strong in manufacturing, electronics, materials, and energy infrastructure, areas where ASEAN already has a competitive foothold.

Since 2014, the ASEAN School on Plasma and Nuclear Fusion has been a cornerstone of this push, training students in plasma physics and fusion tech. This shows that ASEAN has not just started talking about fusion, they are actively building the capability. Another note on ASEAN Fusion is that Thailand Tokamak-1 (TT-1), the first fusion device in Southeast Asia, became operational in 2023. This is not just symbolic: it's industrial capacity building, technical diplomacy, and a statement that ASEAN can engage in fusion research.

ASEAN’s Future Need for Fusion

ASEAN's long-term energy outlook makes fusion not just a scientific interest but a strategic necessity. Electricity demand in ASEAN is projected to triple by 2050, driven by population growth, industrialization, and digitalization. Even though ASEAN is blessed with abundant renewable energy, they alone may not meet baseload needs, especially for power-intensive industries and manufacturing hubs.

As ASEAN has already started building their nuclear fission strategy, they’ve predicted that they might need up to 8.5 GW of nuclear capacity by 2037 (and over 20 GW by 2050) to meet their decarbonization goals. This trajectory makes fusion not just a scientific ambition, but a strategic priority: as fusion matures, it could complement (or even enhance) existing nuclear plans

Fusion offers a pathway that aligns with ASEAN’s structural energy challenges: stable, clean, long-term power that can support industrial growth without locking nations into fossil imports or volatile markets. It won’t replace renewables but it fits naturally into the region’s long-term diversification strategy alongside SMRs and grid modernization efforts.

The Early Movers in ASEAN

Though still in early stages, several ASEAN countries are already signaling interest and building capabilities relevant to future fusion participation.

• Thailand: The Academic Pioneer

Thailand is the country in ASEAN with the most concrete step toward starting its own fusion program. As stated in the previous section, Thailand is the only country in ASEAN that owns a functioning tokamak. This device, hosted by institutions like the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), immediately provides a hands-on research platform to train the next generation of plasma physicists and engineers. Thailand can position itself as a regional research hub for fusion technology, attracting international collaboration and private sector investment into its academic and industrial sectors.

• Singapore: The Technology & Finance Gateway

Singapore is unlikely to build a large fusion plant itself due to land constraints, but its potential lies in its role as a technology integrator and financial hub. Singapore has world-leading expertise in Advanced Manufacturing, High-Performance Computing (AI/ML), and Materials Science—all critical to solving fusion's toughest engineering challenges. This value is already attracting attention from global fusion companies and is exploring cross-border power imports with neighbors. Singapore can serve as the financial and R&D base for private fusion startups targeting the entire Southeast Asian market, funding and optimizing the technology before it's deployed regionally.

• Indonesia: The Demand and Resource Giant

As Southeast Asia's largest economy and most populous nation, Indonesia's energy needs and strategic positioning make it a major potential client for commercial fusion. Indonesia's energy demand is skyrocketing, and it must diversify away from a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. It is already aggressively pursuing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), indicating a massive shift in nuclear policy. This was also backed by the Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), which voiced support for future fusion ambitions.

From Fission Readiness to Fusion Sovereignty

ASEAN is increasingly treating nuclear power (both fission and potentially fusion) as a collective strategic priority, with nuclear energy being included in its APAEC (ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation). The cooperation with IAEA, ITER, and partner countries positions ASEAN not just as a passive consumer but as a knowledge-hub in fusion research.

The emerging interest in fusion across ASEAN should not be overlooked by global players. With its current pivot to nuclear power, the region is effectively subsidizing the future market entry of fusion. Every step taken to establish protocols, train nuclear operators and secure public trust moves ASEAN closer to fusion readiness. In other words, ASEAN’s current nuclear push is not just about fission, it is laying the foundation for fusion sovereignty, the ability to adopt and benefit from fusion on their own terms.