Can We Handle The Responsibility Of Nuclear Power?
July 22, 2008
I was first exposed to nuclear power plants back in 1994, when I was playing as the all-powerful mayor/god of Kennyland in the computer game Simcity 2000. Back then, I had to make a choice: I had to replace my coal and oil-generated power plants (which produces a lot of smoke and causes smog) with a more environmentally-friendly energy source. I decided to go for nuclear power because it didn’t produce any pollution, it produces more Megawatts/cost, and it lasted longer.
Of course, in real life, things aren’t as easy and convenient as a point-and-click computer game. It was announced that Malaysia’s utility provider Tenaga Nasional will consider building a nuclear power plant, probably as part of Malaysia’s national energy blueprint. And it will cost RM10 billion to build.
Excerpts from Malaysiakini:
Utility giant Tenaga may construct the country’s first nuclear power plant at a cost of RM10 billion but is braced for objections from the public.
“We are looking at about RM10 billion (US$3.1 billion) for a 1,000 MW plant,” Mohamad Zam Zam Jaafar, head of Tenaga’s nuclear energy taskforce, was quoted as saying by the Edge financial daily newspaper.
“The government has asked Tenaga to look at nuclear power,” he added.
“A lot has to be done to change the public mindset when it comes to nuclear,” he said.
Mohamad also said Tenaga would likely enter into a joint venture with an “experienced party to build its very first plant.”
Currently, half of Malaysia’s power plants run on gas. Other sources include coal and hydropower.
I think the biggest public concern will not no longer primarily be cost (which is usually the case), but whether Malaysia has the expertise and capabilities to prevent a nuclear disaster like the good old Chernobyl Power Plant in Ukraine.
Here are some questions to consider:
1) Does our country have the expertise and manpower to build and more importantly, maintain a nuclear power plant?
2) Where will the nuclear power plant be located?
3) Do we have the resources to deal with or dispose spent nuclear waste?
4) With the building of a nuclear power plant, does it mean more environmentally destructive projects like the Bakun Dam will be shelved? Will we stop the building of air-polluting coal power plants as well?
Fellow blogger Zewt blogged on this topic, and he was pessimistic that we can properly maintain a nuclear plant based on our ‘boleh’ culture and also past history with cases like landslides, Highland Towers, and the ’sweep under the carpet’ culture.
I generally agree with him that we should not simply tread into unknown waters and risk a disaster, but I think we should not be totally dismissive of the idea either. Because of the Chernobyl disaster, the world generally has a negative view on nuclear power plants, and the prospect of a Homer Simpson watching our nuclear plants doesn’t excite us one bit.
If nuclear power means cleaner energy and less polluting power plants, then I say, why not explore the possibilities? I think this article that I read in the National Geographic magazine will provide more insight as well: Nuclear Power: Risking a Comeback
I leave with you some pictures of the Chernobyl disaster and its aftermath, and also please share with us your comments and views on TNB’s plans to build a nuke plant.
(Picture copyright as stated in picture watermarks)
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11 Responses to “Can We Handle The Responsibility Of Nuclear Power?”
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Our maintenance capabilities or rather lack of it has always been subject to question. Not that we’re short of knowledge or manpower, but it’s the tidak-apa attitude and poor maintenance mentality that always rear it’s ugly head. Remember the objections against the garbage incinerator? The public was against it for the same reason. If public perception has no confidence about a mere incinerator, what more a nuclear power plant? Upgrade that 3rd world mentality before you think about using 1st world facilities.
July 22, 2008 at 4:49 pm
TNB is having the current 40% over capacity that have to be paid for. And the IPP is laughing all the way to the banks for generating unwanted electricity using subsidised LPG from Petronas!
This is also without taken into consideration of the Bakun’s electricity generation.
The over capacity faced by TNB will not be over within 10years, judging from the current industrial development planned by M’sia!
So this is another concocted brainless idea. For what? Maybe just to satisfy someone’s ego?
Sweden is going nuclearless.
M’sia with her ‘no common sense’ of maintenance, ‘gaya musti ada’ hp6 administration, ill-trained & knowwho ‘engineers’ REALLY send BIG CHILL downs to my deepest heart.
Are we going to see ‘ASEAN Chernobyl’ in making!
July 22, 2008 at 6:23 pm
The government isn’t even responsible enough with their C4 inventory. I am aghast to think what they could do with nuclear energy.
B.H.
B.H.’s last blog post…#23 The Cinema
July 23, 2008 at 12:21 am
Nuclear power, that’s one interesting idea and an advance step for Malaysia. Let’s not go back to history of Malaysia ‘tak boleh’, but rather than concentrating on whether we need it or not. What’s the objective of having this plant here? To save the environment? To be the pioneer in this region to have one?
Psychoric’s last blog post…20080626 Today’s Photo - Multiple mE!
July 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
Nuclear power is a very good solution and is very safe provided you maintain it well. Sounds like a lot of people giving negative comment about the proposal is because we totally lost of confidence on how our government manage these mega projects. I would say no to NP, simply because I have no confidence on the people to run the projects base on the bad track record of our government.
July 23, 2008 at 6:19 pm
LMAO,give me a break,having a nuclear plant is a no no if the governement can’t even maintain the public road to be pot-hole-free.Our country is well known for our fisrt class facilities,but third class maintenence,but as long as human life is not in peril,i don’t give it a damn.But come on,this is nuclear plant that they are talking about,they can’t be serious about this.
July 24, 2008 at 1:44 pm
It looks like the consensus so far is that we certainly do not have the right mentality to carry out this the maintenance.
What if I muddy up the argument a little and say that the plant will be built and run by a private company (then sold to TNB), and the power plant will be built far away from major town centers? Will the responses still be the same?
July 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm
HELL NO.
fie the elf’s last blog post…PAS, wat choo up 2?
July 29, 2008 at 12:48 am
I agree with Psychoric. What are the real intentions first on bulding nuclear power? Ego?
But lets not condemn Malaysia of its ‘boleh’ culture YET. Never try, never know. Before I could even finish this reading this post, I can already sense the negativity coming from the comments of our fellow malaysians.
If the government were to go ahead with nuclear power, I will support, but to the extend of which government is ruling at that moment, of course. And still, I totally disagree with those future hydroelectric projects (about 10 hydorelectric dams (if I’m correct) around Sarawak) flooding and destroying our beautiful forests or displacing human lives. Anyway, the nuclear disaster in chernobyl, though tragic, was an isolated one. There are many things Malaysia can’t do or finish or manage, but I can’t seem to reject the idea completely just because of bad track records.
cchivy’s last blog post…As of today…
August 3, 2008 at 7:11 pm
What about the BAKUN project?
August 17, 2008 at 3:05 am
Im sorry I accidently submitted the comment.
What about BAKUN project? Last I heard, the project was halted, as the cabling work (fr Swak to West Malaysia) will cost more than the construction of Bakun itself. The other alternative would be to sell the capacity to Kalimantan. But they dont need it.
Dont we have MINT (Msia Institute of Nuclear Tech)? What were they doing since their establishments? What’s their core business? How do they operate? Most importantly, what will they do with the patented technology?
Kenny, I would suggest you to write more about this
August 17, 2008 at 3:19 am