Sri Lanka Identifies 5 Potential Sites for Its First-Ever Nuclear Power Plant

Sri Lanka has taken a significant step toward introducing nuclear energy by identifying five potential sites for its first nuclear power plant, according to a review by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This move marks a major milestone in the island nation’s long-term energy strategy.

The development was confirmed during the IAEA’s follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission, conducted from July 14 to 18, 2025. The review assessed Sri Lanka’s progress since a 2022 INIR mission and concluded that the country had made commendable advancements in preparing for nuclear energy.

According to John Haddad, team leader from the IAEA’s Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section, “Sri Lanka is actively working on the 2022 recommendations, showing strong commitment to making an informed decision regarding its nuclear power programme.”

Among the developments, Sri Lanka has:

Shortlisted five candidate sites for a nuclear plant

Established a management structure for reactor procurement

Drafted a new comprehensive nuclear law

Integrated nuclear power into its national energy plan for 2025–2044

Although nuclear energy has been on Sri Lanka’s agenda since 2010, it wasn’t until 2024 that the government decided to explore it more seriously. The inclusion of nuclear power in the country’s energy strategy reflects efforts to diversify energy sources amid rising demand and the shift toward renewable energy.

However, technical challenges remain. Integrating a nuclear unit above 600 MW into the current power grid could be difficult due to the state of the network, fluctuating demand, and the dominance of variable renewable energy sources.

The INIR team emphasized that more work is needed in areas such as stakeholder engagement, human resource development, radioactive waste management, and industrial readiness.

In 2024, Sri Lanka reportedly received six proposals for constructing a commercial nuclear power station—indicating growing international interest in the country’s nuclear ambitions.