Expert: There is rising resistance to nuke option

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is mulling over nuclear power as an energy option but an expert has warned that there is rising public opposition towards nuclear energy due to its many risks.

Prof Ramesh Thakur, a co-convenor for the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN), said nuclear energy could be an element towards having energy security as an option other than renewable energy.

But he cautioned that it was important to consider other aspects such as political, economical and security.

“Some might support nuclear power in principle, but if we ask, what if we locate a nuclear reactor in your town, are they going to accept or be in favour of that?

“The risk of possibility of an accident could be small but the impact would be very high,” he said.

Ramesh is also the director of the Centre for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (CNND) in the Crawford School at the Australian National University.

The final report of the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission Phase 1 will be tabled in the Cabinet, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri reportedly said.

The three-phase assessment, initiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), concluded that Malaysia is thoroughly prepared and has developed a considerable base of knowledge to make an informed decision about introducing nuclear power.

The minister said Malaysia has 30 days to respond to the recommendation made by the report that evaluates interested newcomer countries’ status and state-of-readiness in developing a nuclear power programme.

Ramesh said in deciding whether to introduce nuclear energy as a source of power, the Government must weigh all the potential risks including the possibility of a nuclear accident, smuggling and theft of nuclear components as well as corruption.

He said it was important to have a regional discussion between countries including on how governments would respond in cases of emergency.

He suggested the idea of a regional nuclear fuel supply system which can be monitored transparently by several countries in the region.

“Perhaps the plant should be located in a very stable and low risk country and market it to serve the entire region. At the same time, we should still have renewable energy,” he said.