KOTA SAMARAHAN: Malaysia will not have nuclear plants before 2030.
This was due to the Fukushima incident and also the need for meticulous planning before they could be introduced in the country.
“United Kingdom took 10 years just to sign a contract and we in Malaysia might do the same thing. Currently, we are still in the planning state,”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation, Mohd Zamzam Jaafar revealed this at a press conference held at INTAN Campus after the TN50: Fast Forwading Innovation and Creativity Forum yesterday.
Zamzam disclosed that delegates from Malaysia had met the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Malaysia, he added, was ready to proceed to the second phase of nuclear power acquisition.
“However, we have yet to make a decision on this. Nuclear power acquisition comes in three phases which are Decision, Bidding and Operation.
“Furthermore, only West Malaysia is in need of nuclear plants as power in West Malaysia is mainly generated by coal (51 per cent), gas (45 per cent) and hydro (3 per cent).
“Due to the several number of dams in Sarawak, the state does not need nuclear power. Furthermore, the peak of power consumption in Sarawak is currently at 2000 Megawatts while in West Malaysia, it is at 17000 Megawatts to 18000 Megawatts,” said Zamzam.
He also said that nuclear energy was much cleaner than the energy produced by coal and gas. Hence, many developed countries such as China and Japan were moving towards nuclear power.
