Malaysia a prime site for nuclear plants: expert

Malaysia is a logical choice to host nuclear power plants given that it is less prone to tectonic activities such as earthquakes compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to an expert.

Gary Theseira, director of Climate Governance Malaysia, pointed out that Indonesia and the Philippines have already expressed intentions to venture into nuclear power generation despite their location in regions with significant geo-tectonic instability and elevated risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.

He said locating nuclear power plants in less tectonically active parts of Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, would be a more logical approach.

However, the introduction of nuclear power in Malaysia is still a controversial issue. While some have touted its advantages, others have warned against the risks it poses.

Even the government is leaning towards continued use of fossil fuels for now.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the country is not in “pressing need” to adopt nuclear power as it still sees much potential in solar power and the ASEAN Power Grid.

However, he did not dismiss the possibility of exploring the adoption of nuclear energy, especially with Malaysia’s massive data centers in the pipeline.

Theseira acknowledged that while nuclear power is efficient and suitable for industrial use, it faces challenges such as high costs, safety concerns, and waste management.

He proposed that the government works with its Philippine and Indonesian counterparts to develop nuclear plants in Malaysia.