The Hindu Business Line : Malaysia must decide early on setting up atomic plant: Noor

KUALA LUMPUR: A top Malaysian scientist has asked the government to decide early if it wants to venture into nuclear power as the construction of an atomic plant takes a long time.

“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, Deputy Director of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency.

Generally, it requires 15 to 20 years for a nuclear power plant to be completed. With escalating fuel prices, there have been calls for Malaysia to consider nuclear energy as it is cheaper in the long run with negligible amount of greenhouse gases emiss ion.

“The country, at least should take a decision to consider nuclear option so that we can start preparing for any eventuality,'' Mr Noor was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

The Malaysian Nuclear Agency predicts that atomic power plants would be required in the country after 2020. “Longer Malaysia takes time for deciding upon the issue, the expenses to implement the option will also increase,'' said Mr Noor during a present ation at the Asian Power Forum 2008 held in the country recently.

Indonesia has plans to build four 4,000 MW nuclear plants by 2016. Vietnam and Thailand plans to build two 2,000 MW reactors each by 2018 and 2021 respectively. - PTI

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