Thailand's energy ministry is planning to open small modular reactor (SMR) development to private investors in Q3 2026, as part of the 2026 Power Development Plan. SMRs—generating up to 300 MW per unit—can provide steady, high-temperature steam output for industrial use while diversifying the country's energy mix away from coal and gas. The government sees this as a path to replace aging fossil-fuel small power producers (SPPs) with cleaner technology, though public education on nuclear safety will be critical to adoption success.