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By Rashvinjeet S.Bedi
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has to decide early if it wants to venture into nuclear power because the construction of a nuclear plant takes a long time.
Typically, it takes 15 to 20 years for a nuclear power plant to be completed.
"We cannot rush into nuclear energy as there are a lot of construction management issues. There is a lot of effort and know-how that need to be translated into a real plant," said Dr Muhd Noor, the deputy director of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency.
With prices of fuel escalating drastically, there have been calls for Malaysia to consider nuclear energy as it is cheaper in the long run. And, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is almost negligible.
"We would like to at least see a decision to consider the nuclear option. With that, we can start preparing for any eventuality," said Dr Muhd Noor.
Currently, the Fuel Diversification Policies state coal, natural gas, oil, hydropower and renewable energy as national energy sources.
According to the 2005 energy balance, Malaysia's electricity was generated from natural gas (62.3%), coal (28.1%), hydroelectric plants (6.7%) and others (2.9%).
Dr Muhd Noor spoke at the Asian Power Forum 2008 entitled "What is Asia's Power Energy Industries Next Step". It was organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) recently.
Dr Muhd Noor also said the longer Malaysia waited, the costlier it would become to implement it. Currently, the estimated construction cost of a 1,000MW nuclear power plant could vary from US$1.5bil to US$3bil (RM4.8bil-RM9.6bil)
Indonesia has plans to build four 4,000MW nuclear reactors by 2016, Vietnam two 2,000MW reactors by 2018 and Thailand two similar reactors by 2021.
The Malaysian Nuclear Agency predicts that nuclear power plants would be required in Malaysia beyond 2020.
"There is a lack of available competitive, sustainable and alternative commercial energy sources for the long term," said Dr Muhd Noor in his presentation.
He, however, admitted that setting up a nuclear power plant had its challenges such as high capital expenditure, long project implementation and liability and a long payback period.
Another concern addressed by a participant would be the typical Malaysian mentality of having first-class facilities but third-world maintenance. But the forum moderator Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan, the Director-General of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board quelled that concern.
"We can't afford that (third-world maintenance)," he said citing the exemplary track record of radiation safety in Malaysia.
According to him there are more than 2,000 radiation sources, of which more than half are of category one or have very high radiation activity. There are more than 1,300 licensees who handle these sources.
These licensees are made to undergo courses on radiation protection. "We don't compromise on safety. There is a 50% rate of failure," he said adding that the licensees were always being monitored.
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