Long way to go for Malaysia in developing nuclear technology

Long way to go for Malaysia in developing nuclear technology

Malaysia Nuclear Power Corp (MNPC) Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Zamzam
Jaafar, said education and managing public perception, as well as equipping
the country with an additional nuclear-related treaty, were on the priority
list for nuclear development.

"We are still in preparation mode. Apart from managing public perception, we
also need to improve our nuclear law, which has yet to be tabled in
Parliament. Nuclear technology is sensitive.

"We have to be a party to certain international agreements before we can
access the technology. We have not ratified additional protocol under the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and also need to be a party to
conventional nuclear safety," he told reporters on the sidelines of the
Public Information on Nuclear Energy Seminar here today.

The seminar was launched by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and
Water Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang.

"Going by a Economic Planning Unit study, a reason why we are exploring
nuclear energy is due to the imports of coal and liquefied natural gas,
which means the security of supply is not so diversified.

"Diversifying the sources of energy is among the policies to secure energy
supply in Malaysia and that is why we want to include nuclear energy as part
of the energy mix," said Mohd Zamzam.

Malaysia is exploring the option of deploying nuclear energy under the
Economic Transformation Programme to meet future demand and diversify the
energy mix for the country.

A Nuclear Power Development Steering Committee was set up in June 2009
headed by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water to plan and
coordinate the preparatory efforts towards deploying nuclear energy for
electricity generation.

The committee was studying the possibility of delivering a twin-unit nuclear
power plant with a total capacity of two gigawatts, with the first unit
operational by 2021.

However, in November last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
Datuk Nancy Shukri said plans to develop the first two nuclear power plants
had been postponed to after 2030, following a feasibility study and
considering the possible effects of natural disasters on the plants.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Zaini said Malaysia was experiencing a remarkable
transformation and well on its way to become a top 20 country under the 2050
National Transformation Plan, which would not be possible without great
vision, including on energy.

"In fact, energy is also recognised in the new global development agenda as
a critical enabler as represented in the United Nation's Sustainable
Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all," he added.

Zaini said the government continued to invest in the security of energy
supply to drive the nation's growth under the 11th Malaysia Plan, including
exploring nuclear energy as future energy options and MNPC would remain
steadfast in focusing significantly on public engagement and human capacity.

The one-day seminar was co-organised by MNPC and the Japan Atomic Industrial
Forum International Cooperation Centre.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/08/08/long-way-to-go-for-malaysia-in-devel
oping-nuclear-technology/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com