Japan, US and South Korea plan joint SMR exports to Indonesia and beyond

Japan, the United States and South Korea are jointly evaluating the sale of next-generation small modular reactors that they have been co-developing. The initiative seeks to offer a non-Russian, non-Chinese option for countries looking to add nuclear capacity, with Indonesia identified as a primary target after it signed an agreement with Rosatom for floating nuclear plants. The partners are also considering Malaysia and the Philippines for future installations.

A trilateral cooperation framework, signed by the three foreign ministers in July, assigns design leadership to the United States, plant construction to South Korea and key equipment manufacturing to Japan. The collaboration is part of a government-backed industrial partnership aimed at expanding SMR deployment abroad. Officials say the project could boost regional energy security and create export opportunities for the three nations.