The Never Ending Debate...

The announcement by Energy, Green Technology, and Water Minister that Malaysia is earnestly planning to have its first nuclear power plant operating in 2021 (see previous posting), as expected, initiates the usual response from those opposing the idea of having nuclear power plant in the country. This newsreport seems to be the starter.
Normally this type of response is the first that we see or read; as if it is programmed to automatically react, like reflect actions, to that kind of announcement.
Chernobyl has never been left out as an exemplary danger we would be facing. It is pictured as a certainty. That lessons have been learned and nuclear reactors are getting safer do not seem to make sense. That other countries have been operating tens of nuclear reactors safely seems to be conveniently forgotten.
Japan, the country that experienced first hand the effects of the bombs, not once, but twice, is not shying away from it. It is now 30 percent nuclear electricity. The Repbulic of Korea is 40 percent nuclear electricity. The world is 14 percent nuclear electricity. These facts are conveniently forgotten as well.
 

Nuclear power is green technology...

There has been nothing much to say other than yes we may, no we might not; hence the relative quiet and abandon of this site, you might say.
But the latest announcement by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister that Malaysia will have its first nuclear power plant by 2021 yesterday is interesting. It came from a Green Technology Minister, a tacit recognition that nuclear power is green indeed, and the year is closer than what was orginally floated around, 2025.
Other details such as site, rated power (small, large), type (PWR, BWR, CANDU), and vendor have not yet been announced. Let's wait a bit more...
The news, however, made way to only two local newsprint media, Star Online and Business Times section of the New Strats Time. The news is also carried by a web-based World Nuclear News.

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.