Is Malaysia heading to start its very own nuclear reactor to reduce coal-powered plants and save earth? A Malaysian Minister said maybe…
According to an interview with The Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia, Nik Nazmi Nik Mat with CNBC, Malaysia is currently trying to reduce the use of coal as the main energy source. Today, 80% of electrical energy in Malaysia comes from coal.
Browsing through the comment section on YouTube, many Malaysians agree that we should go ballistic with nuclear energy while some are skeptical due to Malaysian working culture. So, should Malaysia go nuclear?
The World Is In A Mess
The global population emits 37.5 billion tons of CO2 annually of which Malaysia contributed 277.5 million tons in 2022 alone (8% of global emissions). With the increase in human population, the pressure for the government to provide enough electricity increases. If we continue to walk on this path, our future is not looking good.
Just look at the graph below, the graph from NOAA shows the concentration of CO2 floating in our atmosphere. All is good until the industrial revolution happens. Today, the concentration of CO2 is at 420 ppm compared to during ice age which is 180 ppm.
In simple terms, the world is hotter as we breathe more CO2 than our ancestors!
People Are Getting Microwaved
In April 2024 alone, 2 deaths out of 45 heatstrokes occurred in Malaysia alone. This is a stark increase compared to April 2023 when only 39 heatstrokes were recorded by Malaysian officials. The Malaysian statistic is a small picture in a large room. Europe alone in 2023 recorded more than 47,000 deaths caused by heatstrokes.
Part Of Malaysia Is Becoming Atlantis
If you have watched The Aquaman movie before, you know that they live in an underwater metropolis. ATLANTIS. In 2050, the Klang Valley will finally be a living space for the Atlantians! It will not be the foreigners invading us, instead it will be the new home to Atlantians.
The NOAA once again highlighted that every year, the earth is getting hotter by 0.06 degrees Celsius. The average earth temperature in 2023 is 14.98 degrees Celsius. Researchers estimated that by 2050, Lembah Klang will go underwater. If we don’t STOP the temperature rise now, we won’t have enough space to live in Malaysia.
Nuclear Power To The Rescue?
So, how does nuclear power fit into this equation? Nuclear energy is considered a renewable energy. It produces 12g CO2 per kilowatt hour (kWh) while a coal-powered plant produces 820 g CO2 per kWh.
So, right off the bat, nuclear energy does not cause air pollution.
Some people will argue, what about the radioactive by-product of nuclear plants? While this is true, 90% of by-products can be recycled.
We can see the direct impact of converting from coal energy to nuclear energy. Air pollution surrounding power plants will be a thing of the past. People can do their daily activities without fear of dirty air.
It is also important to note that nuclear energy is much safer than coal energy. In 2018 alone, fossil fuel kills 8.7 million people globally through illnesses. In contrast, the number of deaths caused by nuclear plants is 61 deaths.
To build and maintain a nuclear plant, Malaysia must produce many skilled manpower. This includes scientists and engineers. The Malaysian diaspora will be more attracted to come back and work in Malaysia. Investors will pour funds into nuclear research and development and the construction of nuclear plants.
STEM subjects will be more attractive to the younger generations. They see the rise of new technology and innovations produced by our local talents. So, Malaysia will not only be the powerhouse for chip industries but also a pioneer in ASEAN to have its nuclear energy.
Imagine the number of nuclear scientists and engineers coming from Malaysia. Even export our local talents to neighboring countries to develop their nuclear energy.
The Bad And The Ugly
For every good thing, there’s a catch! nuclear waste is highly toxic and radioactive. It can last thousands of years and if we do not handle it properly, we’re screwed. So, every entity involved in nuclear energy should handle this matter with care. A little bit of failure and we will see a repeat of the Chernobyl disaster. I can’t imagine a city like Kuala Lumpur becoming a ghost town after a minor incident happened in the nuclear plant.
The other thing is that the cost of a nuclear plant is expensive to construct. It costs billions of Ringgit and may take longer time to build compared to other electrical plants. At some point, it may take decades to build which can cause a huge budget overrun. However, the cost of running a nuclear power plant is relatively cheaper. The government might need to calculate the cost-benefit analysis seriously on this one.
Militarily, our neighbors especially Singapore and Indonesia will be suspicious of us. They will most probably accuse us of trying to build a nuclear weapon. The US may impose sanctions on us just like Iran if it’s convenient to them. Good news for us, we signed a NO NUCLEAR WEAPON TREATY at the United Nations in 2021. We are also a strictly NEUTRAL country. That’s why we welcome US and Chinese Chip companies to come and invest in us. Just like Switzerland during World War 2.
The Verdict
To stop the impact of global warming, drastic actions, and decisive actions need to be taken. As such, Malaysian consideration for nuclear energy is not only a wise move. It is also a strategic power play. If they truly go for it. Malaysia can produce more highly skilled workers and increase investments. At the same time, reducing the dependency on fossil energy. Apart from that, Malaysia will be the pioneer for nuclear R&D and have a stronger say in ASEAN.
Despite the negatives surrounding nuclear energy, I find it more compelling to go for nuclear energy. If we want to change the dire situations and be part of the forces to save earth, there is no better time than now.
If you want to see more of how Malaysia is trying to save the earth. Click and read this this article.
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