Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Selangor says no to nuclear power

SHAH ALAM, May 5 — The Selangor government announced today that it is against the building of a nuclear power plant in the state.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said that the state government will instead opt for more environmentally-friendly energy sources.

“The Selangor government is of the opinion that it would not allow the nuclear plant to be built in the state for reasons that we can find alternative energy which is environmental friendly such a solar energy and energy conservation through new technologies,” he told reporters at the state secretariat here.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin announced yesterday that the federal government has approved a nuclear power plant, which will start operating from 2021.

Malaysia is the first country in Southeast Asia to announce a nuclear power plant, a sensitive matter in the Asean grouping that has always espoused a nuclear-free zone. Malaysia now relies on a combination of fossil fuels and hydro-power to generate electricity.

Chin said his ministry has been given the go-ahead by the Economic Council to start identifying suitable sites but declined to reveal possible sites or the total power to be delivered.

Chin only disclosed that the nuclear plant needed to be built in an area with high power demand, which could possibly mean in any of the industrialised states in the west coast.

Khalid stressed today that the setting up of a nuclear plant should be discussed in Parliament.

“As a Member of Parliament, the matter of this nature is a very serious issue and should be tabled and discussed in Parliament. The people of Malaysia need an explanation as to why there is a sudden need by the federal government to use another energy source especially after the highly expensive Bakun dam.

“We thought by having the Bakun damn, all of our energy requirements will be resolved and there was no discussion with regard to building a nuclear plant as an alternative to Bakun dam,” he added.

Source: Malaysian Insider

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