Amyotha Hluttaw representative, U Myint Kyi, has urged the government to follow in the footsteps of some of its neighbours and develop a nuclear programme focusing on energy and research. A nuclear technology program would bring benefits to medical research, agriculture, measurements of environmental changes and strength testing of large dams.

The Ministry of Science and Technology says it plans to implement a nuclear energy plan in 2014-15 with financial assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Last year Myanmar signed up to an additional protocol of the IAEA, giving the agency greater access to facilities in the country.