Introduction

Energy has been the main contributor towards the rapid growth of Malaysia’s economy.
As we progress towards becoming an industrial country, our dependence on energy sector
increases correspondingly. The problem of sustainability is to ensure the security and reliability
of energy supply of the various energy resources. The economy always increased, and the
primary energy supply is grow to 2.8% a year. Within the last five years, the energy generating
has increased nearly 20% from 15,000 MW in the year 2009 to 20,500 MW in the year 2012.
Consequently, the energy mix primarily based on fossil fuel resources, this will impose the
effect of climate change and energy security.

Sources such as solar, nuclear and biomass for sustainable development meet the increasing
demand, it also reduce carbon emission by intensifying energy efficiency initiatives. A few years
back, the government has been looking into a possibility of building a Nuclear Power Plant as an
effort to diversify the Malaysian Energy Mix and hence strengthen the Energy Security.

To elaborate further about our national energy security and sustainability, the following
questions are answer in the discussion; How should the government take the role in re looking
into Nuclear Energy initiative in Malaysia. What would be the technical and public concerns that
should be outlined and executed and What would be the role of Institute of Higher Learning in
ensuring a sustainable energy outlook for Malaysia.
Discussions

Utilizing nuclear energy

One of the main is atom electricity generation, that can produce 10GW, 2 million tonnes of
coals. If we replace the coals with uranium, only 30 tonnes of uranium are need to produce the
same amount of electricity as the coal which is 10GW.

Earlier, consumption of coal as for electricity generation have contributed the emissions in
Malaysia. The total CO2 emissions from coal fire plants are grow at 5.1% per year, reaching 99
million tons of CO2 in 2017-2020. This CO2 emissions drastically increase with the construction
of coal fired power plant.

CO2 emissions from coal fired plant in Malaysia (million tons)

In the energy sector, one focus has been on greenhouse gas emissions which could lead to
global climate change. The advantage about nuclear energy power is that small quantity carbon
dioxide compared to coal fired. The minor percentage emitted by burning fossil fuel such as
coal, oil and gas, to obtain the same amount of energy. Nuclear power future will decrease the
environmental impacts due to greenhouse gases mitigation.

Technical and public concerns

Malaysia need to updated the source of energy, it due to the increase of the population
in Malaysia. When there is increasement of population there will be a lot of usage of electricity.
Malaysia need to absorpt technologies and capabilities to develop, nuclear power generation
are now be an attraction in Malaysia.

Malaysia government was corporate with Japan company such as Hyundai, ready to use nuclear
energy terms of human capital development. Beside that, Malaysian Nuclear Agency has a total
of 300 plus officers trained researchers in various fields of nuclear technology and related
technology. Lastly, the Ministry of Science, has designed and implemented various programs
national agencies and other international. These programs included the basic training level up
to expert. Other cooperation to provide in-house training on nuclear power. External training
organized by other countries that have nuclear power plants are personnel responsible for.

Proposed field of study nuclear science and engineering also was established at the Institute of
Higher Education, prepared a draft structure of the degree course in nuclear power field, as
well as providing the framework and study subjects for degree courses, professional and semi-
professional with respect to nuclear power, and get expert instructors in the field his
worldwide.

Role of Institute of Higher Learning

The government must research and well train the workers before starting of nuclear energy in
the future. Furthermore, Institute of higher learning like UNIMAP and other University in
Malaysia are now explore to renewable energy to the Engineering course. This will make the
new generation become more sustainability.

Citizen are concern on the issue of nuclear energy because of the effect it can be when it is not
well control and Malaysia is a small country. This is because of the lack of nuclear research and
study are explore to the people in Malaysia.

Lastly, strict aspects such as security, management, information and a lot research from outside
country expert. To avoid risks, people need to be nurtured and learn about how to manage
technology. Higher information and explanation should be expose to the public for better
understanding of this issue.
Conclusion

Nuclear plant is expensive in first construction once it operate the costs will be much
cheaper than coal plants. Beside that the cost per unit for nuclear power is cheaper than
petroleum. The plantation require a small area and also need to be far away from any housing,
the area should be well covered and cooling system must be very solid to stabilize the nuclear
reactance . This will help to cut the cost of electricity to Malaysia economy and the nuclear
small amount can cover a large area for many years. One of the advantage is nuclear power
does not release gases that can pollute the environment like greenhouse gases. The main
elements released from power plants using fossil fuels is carbon dioxide gas. Production coal,
petroleum would cause the greenhouse effect. The rate of pollution in Malaysia can reduced
drastically if nuclear energy is used for generation.

In terms of disadvantages, nuclear energy needed to monitor closely and strictly. Radioactive
from nuclear energy are dangerous and also high costs to control. The radioactive material will
last for a period of time before it may harmless to humans, like the Japan nuclear bombs those
days.

Furthermore, nuclear are depends on uranium material are non-replaceable (non-renewable

energy). The sources of Uranium will reduced by time and it is hardly to get and also is very
expensive.

Even the use of renewable energy resources has a lot of advantage, it faces numerous
outcomes. This support multiple goals by improving energy security, economic development as
well as reducing CO2 emission. A new independent atomic energy regulatory commission will
be established. A Comprehensive Communication Plan and Strategies on Nuclear Power for
electricity will continued to increase the awareness of public acceptance and opening the
knowledge in nuclear for better understanding.
Reference

Magazines:

The Ingeniur vol50 Jun 2011- Aug 2011; Article: Engineering and Sustainability

Newspaper:

Au Yeong How. Nuclear Malaysia serving the nation. The Star, Thursday July 23,2009

Internet:

i. www.saveenergy.gov.my
ii. Electricity Tariffs in Malaysia
http://www.enerdata.net/enerdatauk/press-and-publication/energy-news-
001/electricity-tariffs-malaysia-current-situation-and-outlook_31593.html
iii. Energy Mix and Alternatives Energy for Sustainable Development in Malaysia
Abdul-Rahman, A., 2003. Issues and challenges of the development of RE in Malaysia.
http://www.ptm.org.my/biogen/ PDF/Articles/DrAnuarISERE170903.pdf
iv. Strategy Paper 17
http://www.epu.gov.my
 Percentage of Generation Mix, 2010-2015

Installed Capacity, Peak Demand and Reserve Margin, 2010 – 2015

Electricity Consumption by Sectors