No Coal...

The decision of the Sabah State government last week to do away with the proposed RM 1.2 billion, 300 MW coal-fired plant, near Lahad Datu, Silam was a positive one. It is significant because the major consideration was environmental preservation, which is rarely the main motivator for a decision of that nature. It is said that the plant is a potential environmental threat to the pristine Danum Valley and Darvel Bay. The utility company was asked to look for other more environmental-friendly way of generating the needed electricity.
Coal is one of the dirtier fossil plant. It is known to emit sulphur dioxide, the cause of acid rain, soot particle, and a contributor to global warming through the emission of carbon dioxide. Coal-fired plant is only about 30% fuel efficient, the rest is wasted and some go to pollute the environment.
As Sabah and Sarawak develop following the pace of development in Peninsular Malaysia the need for energy there is expected to increase. Bakun hydro potential in Sarawak, which is also tagged to be the energy source for the Peninsular through a submarine cable, has also been mentioned as the potential source for energy in that region. Perhaps the total potential of Bakun could be dedicated and reserved to fulfill the requirement of Sabah and Sarawak without any transmission to the Peninsular. Then we can do away with the 1000 km long or so submarine cable as well.

Time Out

Until things back on track there would be less noise and talk on nuclear energy. The new government has just been formed as it picks up speed the view on nuclear energy would be known.. could it be even more friendlier towards nuclear power?

Energy and Advanced Technology

Energy should not be the sole consideration for embarking on a nuclear power program. The spin-offs effect should also be a motivator. This aspect is not so obvious in other types of power plant. This is also an aspect that has not been adequately communicated to the public. It adds to the justification to have such a program beyond just fulfilling energy needs, which is open for debate, and may not be strong enough to carry the push to have such a program alone.
The stringent demand for exactness, precision, and use of materials with special properties demand special capability and knowledge. Such capability, developed for the nuclear industry, would diffuse to other areas resulting in the overall uplifting of the quality and capability in the industry as a whole.

Human Error

To err is human. Frequently we hear this saying whenever something bad happens as a result of human action. Many nuclear accidents, and incidents, are the result of human error. The same is attributed to the safe automatic shutdown of nuclear reactors in Florida recently. It caused considerable loss and inconvenience to say the least to users and consumers, and the utility company itself, but the nuclear reactors behaved as expected and did not cause any accident.
Nonetheless some may regard that as nuclear accidents and regard safety issues as endemic to nuclear reactors. Unless the cause is made clear and explained to the public that misunderstanding may indeed take root in the mind of the public and nuclear energy will be regarded as unsafe.
Human error cannot be avoided, but measures that are put in place through advancement in engineering and technology minimize its effect on the system. Even so, it is best that the safety system is not challenged. Hence administrative means must be put in place to minimize that possibility. However, put everything in place, technical and administrative control, engineered safety features, and everything, without safety culture, those measures will not be effective.
Still, regrettably, any 'nuclear accidents' are taken by the public as technological flaw or weakness, not due to human infallibility. Road accidents happen every second and yet vehicles, as it should be, have never been branded as flawed. It is the driver that is at fault. Shouldn't the same be the case for nuclear reactors too?

Big Decision

Deciding to go nuclear is a big move. Once decided there should not be any retraction or it would be difficult to be re-activated in the future. Hence, it is a big decision.
Sufficient preparation must be in-place even for making this decision so that any reaction, hostile or just adverse, can be handled effectively and convincingly. Groups unsympathetic to the cause may take difference posture. Public acceptance, once again, becomes one of the main decisive factors. Fact and figures can persuade the public especially if these can be made to touch the heart and appeal to emotions. After all acceptance is an emotive act.
Comfort level of the public must be raised with respect to the issues of radioactive waste, nuclear safety, and fuel supply assurance and security, among others. Already the thinking public is questioning about the availability of fuel to supply the 'nuclear renaissance.'
Also, 'nuclear renaissance' should not just be manifested in the numbers of nuclear power reactors being put to grid, constructed, or planned, but also in other aspects of nuclear electricity generation. Waste, safety, proliferation, and access to technology as well as sufficient level of self-dependency must be considered and explained to the general public, especially the voting public.

Bulk Power

Talk about powering industrial plants, the massive electricity guzzler like steel mills, smelters, magnetic levitation trains and all of their kinds, can renewable energy like solar, wind, and waves deliver their needs? Probably not. Bulk, consistent, and continuously available power generating plant, like nuclear plant, is the answer.
Yes, all electricity is alike. The one supplied by solar can equally run the TV sets as electricity generated by a nuclear power plant. The appliances or users do not know what plant generates the electricity, and they don't have to. But we ought to segment the end-users and end-use of electricity so that we can come up with what would be a good mix or composition. Bulk power generated by central power plants for industrial uses and renewable energy for 'soft' users such as office buildings and households.
Not a single energy source can supply total global needs alone, but each can handle specific requirements. That is what balancing the energy mix is all about.

Backburner

Election is just around the corner. The parliament was dissolved last Wednesday, 13 Feb, and voting is scheduled to be on Saturday, 8 March. Until the new government is set-up and installed, the nuclear power/ energy question perhaps will for a while take the backseat...