TNB pushes for use of nuclear energy

MALAYSIA will have its maiden nuclear power plant 15 years from the day it starts working on the project, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) (5347) president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamed Noh said.

The national electric utility is pushing for the use of nuclear energy to head off a power crunch expected in the future, and has asked for a decision from the government around 2013.

Che Khalib, however, stressed that TNB would not simply "jump into developing a nuclear power plant" as an easy way out to meet future energy demand.

It would do so only when the country's main fuel energy sources are exhausted.
Such requirement appears imminent as our gas reserve is depleting fast, while coal - an imported energy source - is getting scarce, making it more costly to buy.

"We are not sure whether 20 years from now Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd) will be able to continue to supply gas to us," Che Khalib said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with TNB's 60th anniversary, which falls today.

At present, TNB's power generation is a mix of about 60 per cent gas, more than 30 per cent coal and about 10 per cent hydro.

Che Khalib said the long planning for a nuclear plant is inevitable as it involves lengthy public relations (PR) campaign, site identification, international approval and construction of the plant itself.

"This is similarly experienced in South Korea (when it started its first nuclear programme years ago).

"It should take about two to three years to identify the site and to do a PR exercise to convince the public that a nuclear plant is safe and more cost-savings and efficient.

"After that, we need another two or three years to get approval from the international nuclear agency. The agency will do an audit to ensure that our nuclear development programme is not abused for other purposes than to generate energy.

"Lastly, the construction of the plant itself will take about seven to eight years. If we are to build any subsequent units after that, the development time will then be shorter," he explained.

Another prerequisite for nuclear development to succeed is having qualified personnel.

Che Khalib does not think that Malaysians are incapable of handling their own nuclear plant.

"The nuclear subject is not new to us. The country has been sending people overseas to study various aspects of nuclear for the past 30 years. It's just that we have not had a nuclear plant. (But) we have capable individuals," he said