|
21 October 2009 - A draft of Malaysia's national nuclear energy policy has been completed, but nuclear energy is just an option to generate electricity beyond 2020, the state parliament was told.
According to The Star newspaper, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusuf said the policy draft was done following meetings involving officials from 35 ministries, agencies and government-linked agencies.
Fadillah said the Government was studying all aspects, including safety issues, if Malaysia intended to harness nuclear energy as an alternative option for power generation.
"The decision to develop nuclear energy for power generation rests on the national nuclear policy. The policy draft is now being finalised by the Cabinet.
"We should not only look to nuclear energy in the context of its power generation but also nuclear management, nuclear waste control and compliance to internationally-recognised licensing standards," Fadillah told Liang Teck Meng (BN - Simpang Renggam).
To a supplementary question from Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS - Hulu Langat), Fadillah said the negative perception on the dangers of nuclear energy were based on nuclear plant accidents which took place in Chernobyl, Russia and Three Mile Island, United States.
He said nuclear energy production now use the latest third-generation technology, which is safer and more environmentally- friendly.
"We will hold a third seminar on nuclear energy next month, in which the Opposition and the public will be invited to give feedback on the direction of the national nuclear energy policy," he said.
Fadillah also said that the Malaysian Nuclear Agency has 334 officers with expertise in nuclear technology.
"The number of experts for the country's nuclear energy plan is still inadequate.
"The ministry is implementing several programmes at local universities and collaborating with local and international agencies to create more local nuclear energy experts," Fadillah added.
| 
Articles 
| View all PennWell sites | View all PennWell events
Add RSS Feed
