The United States will help Thailand develop nuclear power through a brand new class of small reactors as a part of a program to combat climate change, Vice President Kamala Harris announced during a visit Saturday.
The White House said the help is an element of the Global Net Zero Initiative, a project launched eventually 12 months’s climate summit in Glasgow by which the United States is working with the private sector and philanthropists to advertise clean energy.
Thailand doesn’t have nuclear energy, and public sentiment on the problem worsened after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
The White House said it will offer technical assistance to the Southeast Asian country in implementing its emerging technology of small modular reactors, that are factory-built and portable. Such reactors are generally considered safer because they don’t require human intervention to shut down in an emergency.
A White House statement said U.S. experts would work with Thailand to deploy reactors that will have the “highest safety, security and nonproliferation standards” and take up less space than traditional nuclear power plants.
U.S. rivals China and Russia, in addition to Argentina, are also developing small modular reactors, with prototypes within the design phase.
The White House didn’t provide a timetable but said it will support Thailand, which is extremely sensitive to climate change, in its efforts to develop into carbon neutral by 2065.
Harris is visiting the U.S. ally on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and discussed climate efforts during a gathering with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Harris also spoke to Prayut about developments in neighboring Myanmar, where the military overthrew the elected government in February 2021.
Harris “condemned the continuing atrocities and human rights abuses committed by the Burmese regime,” a White House statement said after the meeting, which used Burma’s former name.
“The vice chairman has made clear that the United States stands with the people of Burma,” it said.
On Thursday, Myanmar’s junta released about 6,000 prisoners, including foreigners. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Bangkok on the time, welcomed the move but said there was no evidence the regime was making major improvements.
During Harris’ visit, the White House also announced an initiative with Thailand to boost fifth-generation web security and a project to construct a “world-class” cancer treatment center within the eastern province of Chonburi.
