The Commonality of the 'Pros' and 'Cons'...

The debate on whether Malaysia should consider nuclear energy took place recently; not in the cyberworld or the electronic media, but in the conventional print media. The opposing views are there, represented by their respective presidents the Malaysian Nuclear Society and the Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility projected their views on Is nuclear energy the answer? to Malaysia's energy mix.
But rather than emphasizing differences, the title of this writing suggests to look at the meeting points.
It was to one of the responses of the media and a follow-up to recent statements made by the PM on the need to introduce nuclear energy in the energy mix of Malaysia, and that cooperation with the Republic of Korea should be a welcome possibility.
It took place at the appropriate moment. The International Nuclear Conference 2009 INC'09 and the accompanying exhibition is to begin 29 June at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Statement to Capitalize on

The position of nuclear power in the country seems to be bobbling up and down, from the point of vew of the public. But if there is one on the up side, this statement from the prime minister while in Jeju on green technologies should be capitalized on. Rarely that 'green' and 'nuclear' be taken together in positive sense.

Gentle Reminder

Home news on nuclear energy has been so quiet for quite a while. It received energy to emerge out of the sea of issues that are the probable cause of it being drowned out when former prime minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, wrote about nuclear power in his blog.
It was not supportive, neither it was very negative as to discount nuclear energy altogether. To me, it was a reminder that the introduction of nuclear energy must be made cautiously, after having all things considered. That is fair, and that I believe it is the practice in many projects.
There are over 400 nuclear power reactors now operating in the world, supplying over 16 percent of the global electricity need.
Chernobyl is today 23 years old. There have been progress made in reactor safety since then and there is no more accidents of that scale in recent times.
These are considerations; and to me they are positive considerations. Things do not stay where they were. Fossil fuels are depleting, the environment is crying for cleaner air, and the world needs energy to progress. The number of nuclear reactors being commissioned, in construction, and being planned that is in the increasing trend is indicative that it now has solid track record as viable energy source.

What Nuclear?

With the escalating down of oil price, would the call for nuclear power be as effective? So much was tied to the price of oil, instead of its dwindling supplies, when making arguments about the need for nuclear.

What's Next

This Bernama link reporting Malaysia becoming a member of the IAEA Board of Governors probably is the latest news related to nuclear for Malaysia. On the local scene new developments are yet to take place. Item 101 in the budget 2009 speech stating the need to explore nuclear energy to ensure long-term energy security for the nation and the formulation of a comprehensive National Energy Plan is still probably among the latest and significant development in this regard that is known in the public domain.

Nuclear Energy 2023...

Every now and then statements are made on the possibility of nuclear energy taking part in the task of electricity generation in Malaysia. It has been the last option for many many years. As current resources are dwindling, it is becoming more imperative that nuclear energy should be introduced.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) has spoken positively about it. Both the prime minister and his deputy also have spoken about it in the same tone. It was included in the budget speech for 2009 that the country is exploring its use. Today, the Minister responsible for energy said that the country will use nuclear for electricity production by 2023 as global supplies of natural gas and coal deplete (The Star, page 29, 20 September 2009). There is a sense of urgency in the tone of the speech: "...the increase in coal price had been exceptional and we need to act now."
He is reported to have also said that the Government was left with no choice but to use nuclear energy as it was the better alternative (compared to other sources).
It was reported that the price of coal in June was USD70 (RM242) per tonne. Today it triples that figure, hovering between USD140 (RM485) and USD180 (RN623) per tonne.
The rising cost of oil makes the cost of transportation to also increase. Certainly this contributes to the increasing cost of coal, which is transported from the source to the power stations.
2023 is exactly 15 years from today, the magic figure that is estimated to be the duration needed to put everything in place for the introduction of nuclear energy.
In the meantime, the Malaysian Nuclear Society (MNS), together with the Mlaysian Nuclear Agency is organizing an International Nuclear Conference, 29 June - 01 July 2009 in Kuala Lumpur with the theme "Strengthening Partnership in Nuclear Energy." More details on the conference, which is dubbed as INC'09, could be found at http://online.nuclearmalaysia.gov.my/sems/inc09.

What's In It for Malaysia...

Is it to be remembered? Isn't it something that will serve us well when forgotten? Yes, but it just simply wouldn't go away. Commemorated or not, Hiroshima and Nagasaki is known to be associated with nuclear, even by those regarded to be too young to remember or to know what happened more than 60 years ago.
We should not simply left them with that story on Hiroshima and Nagasaki without also giving them another face of nuclear tecgnology. Thus, the event was commemorated once again, like previous years by many quarters. One was by the Malaysian Nuclear Society (MNS), but not for rekindling that destructive image.
A one-day seminar on the applications of the technology was held at USIM, Bandar Baru Nilai, Wednesday, 6 August. It was attended by more than 300 participants, predominant among them were the would be scientists and researchers - students from the nearby local universities and school children. They are the ones who should know that there are many peaceful uses of the technology, and that its use for destruction is an immoral act and contrary to the reason for pursuing and equipping oneself with knowledge. They were reminded of that.
The bomb was first written about in Malaysia, to my recollection, in a 1952-publication entitled Almanak Melayu, 1952. The promise of the atoms to benefit mankind when properly used was mentioned. Even though descriptions of the fission process may not be that accurate, the efforts to share information and educate general readers on the technology, as early as 1952, is laudable.