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Singapore (AHN) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has included nuclear power among its approved list of alternative energy sources that member countries can use.
The latest draft of an ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability, which outlines measures to promote the use of renewable or alternative energy sources by Southeast Asian countries, includes the controversial option despite protests.
However, the draft declaration also provides that ASEAN will ensure that nuclear plants are safe and have safeguards based on international standards.
ASEAN countries that plan to build nuclear plants for electricity by 2020 are Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The proposed plants are hoped to reduce dependence of imported crude oil and natural gas.
The draft declaration is subject to ratification by leaders of the group's 10 member countries in a summit in Singapore on Tuesday. The host country wants the summit to focus on climate change, including environmentally sustainable practices, improved cooperation to fight trans-boundary pollution and action against illegal logging.
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