Indeed 2015 was an eventful year for the nuclear industry in Asia. While nuclear developments in Asia is promising, it is REALLY just China which is flying the flag for nuclear activities in Asia. China is where almost all the nuclear business activities are taking place at the moment. Nuclear power plants currently under construction in China account for 40% of the total around the world.
Domestically, China plans to almost triple its atomic power generation by the end of the decade and is forecast to spend $1 trillion to expand capacity by 2050. The strategy is outlined in the country's recent 13th Five-Year Plan.
China will invest over $100 billion to construct around seven new reactors annually between now and 2030. By 2050, nuclear power should exceed 350 GW in that country including about 400 new nuclear reactors.
Internationally, 2015 saw China flex its muscle as a leader in nuclear technology export who could potentially match the Russians. China signed multi-billion dollars nuclear deals with Argentina, South Africa, Romania, as well as finalising its participation in UK's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
Southeast Asia which was once seen as a region of tremendous potential for new build has continued to stagnate and to a certain extent represent little business opportunities in the near future. Strong resistance from the public coupled with the lack of strong government will, in my opinion, means that nuclear new build might not materialize.