Nuclear power for electricity in Malaysia – cleaner energy for electric vehicle charging to come soon?

Nuclear power for electricity in Malaysia – cleaner energy for electric vehicle charging to come soon?

Malaysia could adopt nuclear power as one of its energy sources in the coming years, economy minister Rafizi Ramli has said. The decision on the country’s potential use of nuclear energy has been made, and this will be undertaken by the ministry of energy transition and water transformation (Petra) and the ministry of science, technology and innovation (Mosti), reported New Straits Times.

According to Rafizi, nuclear power is a cleaner energy source compared to other sources, and this could help the country achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Since the decision has been made by the National Energy Council and endorsed by the Cabinet, nuclear energy is likely to be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) as one of the country’s official energy sources,” Rafizi said, according to the report.

Nuclear power for electricity in Malaysia – cleaner energy for electric vehicle charging to come soon?

Operational costs for the lifespan of nuclear energy are more secure because these do not depend on the fluctuations of raw material prices, such as gas or coal, Rafizi said. Current nuclear technology is different from those of the past which required large facilities, he added.

“At present, there are small modular reactors (SMRs) that are smaller, safer, and do not require high costs. SMRs will make it easier and cheaper to use in areas that need energy compared to conventional energy sources. Due to these factors, especially the SMR technology, the government has decided to study the feasibility of nuclear energy in Malaysia,” he said.

Using nuclear power as an energy source would bring another source of renewable energy into the mix, in additional support for the gas and coal which currently fuel power plants in Malaysia, as well as diversifying energy sources to further secure the energy security for the nation’s electricity supply.

This should also bolster the energy reserve margin in Malaysia, which as of March this year has been projected to be between 28% and 36% from this year until 2030.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Sohai on Nov 08, 2024 at 2:02 pm

    Pizi, if it is so good, build the plant in your Pandan constituency lah…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 5
  • Looking at Malaysia maintain its assets in the past, just forget it.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 52 Thumb down 0
    • opmanmy on Nov 09, 2024 at 9:30 pm

      LOL…well said. Looking at our infra and how it is being maintained, everyone knows it. All broken down in the end. First class facility, 3rd world mentality.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Selangor Air management also kaput always polluted and hv to be closed every now and then, and the saga continues till today without concrete improvement, now we want nuclear????? Who needs new drama when existing one also cannot manage well?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 49 Thumb down 0
  • Bieight8 on Nov 08, 2024 at 2:37 pm

    Should have nuclear weapons also…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 6
  • Kariayam on Nov 08, 2024 at 3:02 pm

    waiting for all the uninformed village people to say Hurrr nuclear is so dangerous hurrr we can’t do this!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 13
  • paanjang16 on Nov 08, 2024 at 3:19 pm

    Trump going to be POTUS, can talk business. Nuclear power for the future and better have some form of alternative energy. Like Germany struggling with high energy prices after its gas supply got cut off. Cannot rely on just coal, gas or oil.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • hazri on Nov 08, 2024 at 3:30 pm

    The use of nuclear energy for electricity generation can be considered extremely safe. But, the nuclear waste will remain hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Pro-Palestine on Nov 10, 2024 at 9:08 am

      Clearly you don’t know how nuclear plants work. There is Zero nuclear waste if the nuclear plant is not leaky and faulty like the Japanese nuclear plant. A good plant will use up everything to generate electricity

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
      • Nuclear power on Nov 11, 2024 at 12:56 am

        Really? it was stated that only 4% of Uranium is used and the leftover which is 96% is left to decay over time simply because it has not enough power to boil the water anymore. But the latest technonology can now renew the Uranium, making it back to 100% (or close to). but since the Uranium is so cheap, this is not yet a business.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • Ji Kao on Nov 11, 2024 at 7:19 am

        Ever heard of spent fuel genius?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Anonymous on Nov 11, 2024 at 9:28 am

        And where did you learn that? There is absolutely no such thing as “zero nuclear waste”. Many fission products are highly radioactive as they are rich in neutrons. Some small amounts of heavier than uranium elements may also form when the uranium captures the neutron but does not split.

        Because of the nature of our fusion reactors, even nuclear fusion will inherently produce radioactive waste (albeit at lower levels and amounts).

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • hazri on Nov 12, 2024 at 8:36 pm

        the one who is palatao is you bro. IF the nuclear plant is not leaky and faulty like the Japanese nuclear plant. IF a country like japan can leaky and faulty, so what the guarantee for malaysia?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Which parallel universe you are from with different laws of physics?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • Pro-Palestine on Nov 15, 2024 at 9:33 am

          Does Fusion produce radioactive nuclear waste the same way fission does?
          Nuclear fission power plants have the disadvantage of generating unstable nuclei; some of these are radioactive for millions of years. Fusion on the other hand does not create any long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. A fusion reactor produces helium, which is an inert gas. It also produces and consumes tritium within the plant in a closed circuit. Tritium is radioactive (a beta emitter) but its half life is short. It is only used in low amounts so, unlike long-lived radioactive nuclei, it cannot produce any serious danger. The activation of the reactor’s structural material by intense neutron fluxes is another issue. This strongly depends on what solution for blanket and other structures has been adopted, and its reduction is an important challenge for future fusion experiments.

          Can fusion cause a nuclear accident?
          No, because fusion energy production is not based on a chain reaction, as is fission. Plasma must be kept at very high temperatures with the support of external heating systems and confined by an external magnetic field. Every shift or change of the working configuration in the reactor causes the cooling of plasma or the loss of its containment; in such a case, the reactor would automatically come to a halt within a few seconds, since the process of energy production is arrested, with no effects taking place on the outside. For this reason fusion reactors are considered to be inherently safe.

          Can fusion reactors be used to produce weapons?
          No. Although hydrogen bombs do use fusion reactions, they require an additional fission bomb to detonate. Working conditions of a magnetically-confined fusion reactor require a limited amount of fuel in the reactor. This fuel is continuously injected and consumed; therefore there is never a sufficient amount of fuel to produce the instantaneous power required for a weapon.

          When is electricity generated through fusion expected to be available?
          At present, fusion devices produce more than ten megawatts of fusion power. ITER will be capable of producing 500 megawatts of fusion power. Although this will be on the scale needed for a power station, there are still some technological issues to address before a commercial power plant can operate. A prototype of a fusion reactor (DEMO) is expected to be built by 2040. Electricity generation and exploitation is also expected to take place in the second half of the century, depending on funding and technical advancement.

          Japan plant is lousy because they build it in earthquake prone areas and secondly they do not have advance nuclear tech like Russia or China. You guys clearly do not know much between fission and fusion tech. Even fusion tech with uranium is old story.
          “said Andrew Holland, CEO of the Washington, DC-based Fusion Industry Association. As a result, the US relies on its allies’ machines in Japan, Europe and the UK to further its research.

          Holland pointed to a new $570 million fusion research park in eastern China under construction, called CRAFT, on track to be completed next year.

          “We don’t have anything like that,” he told CNN. “The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has been upgrading its tokamak for 10 years now. The other operating tokamak in the United States, the DIII-D, is a 30-year-old machine. There’s no modern fusion facilities at American national labs.”
          There’s a growing unease in the US industry that China is beating America at its own game.
          Russia and China have long started using more advance Tokamak and has ZERO radioactive waste while generating 100000 times more energy. So stop quoting me old Japanese or American nucler techs. Those I agree have waste and is very lousy

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kckfen on Nov 08, 2024 at 3:35 pm

    I think Thorium nuclear reactor will be much better idea. We do have Thorium rich resource in our country. We dont need to import uranium from Russia. This will be ideal nuclear power in Malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • This joker never ceases to amuse. Him and his buddies had a field day fighting against that Lynas plant in Kuantan. Now this is a million times worst.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • AniNomad on Nov 08, 2024 at 3:54 pm

    Considering our;
    1. ‘Maintenance’ culture.
    2. ‘Contract-award/tender’ culture.
    3. ‘Oversight/Enforcement’ culture.
    Not sure I would like nuclear power here. Look at Bukit Merah/Lynas issues.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Hafiz on Nov 08, 2024 at 5:05 pm

    Sure or not? or is it another delulu project like the New National Car Project, tease here, tease there, in the end habuk also don’t have, it’s been 4 years already and still no show except prototype, Malaysian ESEMKA??? anyone???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Zuskopi on Nov 08, 2024 at 7:59 pm

    NO.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Phuddi sung Lee on Nov 08, 2024 at 8:11 pm

    He is in-charge and head of daily dose of jokes and unrealistic explanations plus rotate unnecessary things from left to right and up to down which currently no sense to hilite like Ron 95 Bez global price is plunge daily but he and his big boss cekap banyak commitment about it ,
    Speech less I’m

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • DonkeyKong on Nov 08, 2024 at 8:18 pm

    Nuclear power is good, only anti-science buffoons don’t want to look into it’s details. However, Malaysia won’t have any fuel security because the mixed oxide fuel rods won’t be manufactured locally.

    Power China has been discussing with our government on a nuclear power plant in the 2GW range. Imagine this scenario – we start relying more and more on nuclear energy. One fine day China decides to twist our arm for a trade deal or military base deal or whatever. They start withholding sales of the fuel elements to Malaysia.

    What can we do then? It’s not like coal and gas where we have our own supply.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 4
    • EV Car Mafia on Nov 10, 2024 at 7:47 am

      That’s a very valid point. The plan is already in motion with all the assembly and manufacturing hubs. China can turn it around to any kind of weapon or military manufacturing at any time. With a nuclear plant, the entire power grid is in their hands. For a small country like ours, why can’t we rely on solar and wind power sources? Gosh.. we are doomed.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
      • For solar and wind power, our country already setup it like solar farm but current solar got limitation as it only absorb 20% efficiency from sunlight whole day. Thats there reason why we need other sources of energy. Even though we put all solar panel on the roof of all malaysian houses still cannot achieve the nuclear energy capability.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Ji Kao on Nov 11, 2024 at 7:21 am

      Coal is imported from Indo and Aus

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Suren on Nov 08, 2024 at 8:43 pm

    With corrupt practices being thr norm in construction industry, especially government projects, i wouldn’t be suprised if there’s a radioactive leak within months of commissioning.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • Takuuut on Nov 08, 2024 at 9:09 pm

    Pls don’t tebuk sarang tebuan/lebah we’re the worst when talk about maintenance, always somebody get blamed or due to God will

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • Stupid PADU already cost 85m, no projects no lobangs

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • Superconducting Tokamak on Nov 08, 2024 at 10:07 pm

    Buying Uranium fuel rods from Russia TVEL or USA Westinghouse or French AREVA or Dutch Urenco?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Which area are suitable n how large the demand required to cater the need as this will define the area needed to build 1. N which state will willingly to give it’s citizen the peace of mind that Malaysia is capable to sustain n maintain this plant.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • William Tan on Nov 09, 2024 at 7:05 pm

    Great choice as nuclear power is proven to be one of the safest clean energy source with strict safe maintenance protocol. And the most efficient! Pls go do your research for ppl who simply open their mouths to object!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Agensi Nuklear Malaysia da lama da ada. Tp tu lah, bila birokrasi ni ssh nak ckp. Bila temolok masing2 lg penting drpd kebajikan rakyat, maka hasil R&D pi mai pi mai tang tu jugalah.

    Yang tahu, tahulah. Pjg kisah nak type dlm ni. Cemuih je nnti.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • This ass ministry has very much bullshit pain. Will suggested all kind of nonsense data and predictive. End of the day karma will on him to impose all shit of taxes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Pro-Palestine on Nov 10, 2024 at 9:04 am

    Nuclear may sound scary due to stigma but those who works in the field knows how safe it is if it the generator and water cooling system is build well unlike the leaky Japanese plant. The only expert that can build safe and efficient nuclear plants are China and Russia. They have the most nuclear power plants in the world and none have any problem. Nuclear plants is the cheapest and most reliable source of electricity which potentially reduce electricity bills for all. I support this idea but please only let Russia or China build the plant for us

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
  • Weewee on Nov 10, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    Considering how he handles the PADU project, you trust this guy to handle nuclear for us?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Beckinson Too Ka Sing on Nov 11, 2024 at 2:52 pm

    Lol no maintenance culture disaster waiting to happening.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • anwar menang, rakyat dikencingkan on Nov 11, 2024 at 7:09 pm

    after sutuadi mannan support hamas and rebuked facebook , will US approve Malaysia to have nuclear?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • ahmadjr on Nov 12, 2024 at 3:50 pm

    please build in penang

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • org bodoh!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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