High on a Hill

Malaysia's first nuclear power plant targeted for 2025

Jul 3, 2009 14:37

Remember the post that discussed whether Malaysia should build a nuclear power plant? After writing that, I received the following email (grammar and proper phrasing notwithstanding):

Hi, I am a Malaysian who works in the USA for the last ten years in the nuclear power industry. I am fortunate enough to participate in building the Generation III+ nuclear power plants.

For the long run, nuclear power is the only viable option left. Every country, especially developing countries like Malaysia, needs base load power plants that run the all year long. Hydro, coal and nuclear are the only three via options for base load power plants. Gas is not typically considered for a base load power plant because it is too expensive to use gas turbine (mostly refers to simple cycle power plant) to generate the electricity needed for day-to-day use. I think Hydro would remind Malaysian about the famous Sarawak Bakun Hydro Project; so, it is not really a viable option for every country. Now, we are down to coal and nuclear. Your article has pointed out why coal is not a viable option for the long run. So, we are pretty much down to nuclear power.  

Should Malaysia build a nuclear power plant? That is a very good question. My answer is YES. Will we SOON see the building of a nuclear power plant? My highlight is "SOON"; not because it takes ten years to build a two units plant; but, from the regulatory and technical readiness prospective.  

I don't believe Malaysia's current regulatory is ready to handle the enriched uranium fuel as well as spent nuclear fuel (at the end of nuclear fuel cycle). By the way, you can use uranium fuel that is not enriched to power a reactor that what we normally refer to as heavy water reactor (like Canadian CANDU reactor).

As a Malaysian, I am well aware that it will take some time for our government to lay out the necessary regulatory for handling nuclear fuels. Thailand and Indonesia are doing that now, with the goal of getting nuclear power by 2018. More important, we need to train our people to run these nuclear units. We need the operators that are knowledgeable to shut the units, when there is an emergency (e.g. LOCA). We need plant maintenance staffs that are knowledgeable to keep up the equipment in the plants.  Simulator is built to train the plant operators how to respond to emergency. These operators are required to get regulatory certification for their works.
Should Malaysia build a nuclear power plant? Again, my answer is YES. Is Malaysia ready to a nuclear power plant? My answer is NO.

Best Regards, SSF 

Thanks, SSF, for writing the email. It seems SSF is not the only person who feels Malaysia should build a nuclear power plant, but is not ready to build one yet. On Wednesday, it was reported that France has offered to help Malaysia in this endeavor. See report: France offers to build nuke plant in Malaysia. 

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said France had very advanced nuclear power technology, which provides nearly 90 percent of its energy needs. According to the same news report, Tenaga Nasional Bhd had originally hoped to start its first nuclear power plant by 2025.

Perhaps with help from France, this plan will be accelerated. What's clear is that it is no longer a question of should or should not, but of when and how fast.

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