Source: The Star
PETALING JAYA: The Government will have to relook at the proposed project of building nuclear plants in Malaysia after what happened at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said this would include looking at the locations and the safety measures of the project.
"The (Fukushima Daiichi) plant in Japan is located in the coastal area, which seems to be dangerous.
"However, nuclear power plants also require a lot of water so this is an issue that the Government needs to look at," he said.
In December last year, the Government announced plans to build two nuclear power plants to generate 1,000 megawatts each, with the first plant set to be ready for operation in 2021 as part of an overall long-term plan to balance energy supply.
The second plant was expected to be ready a year later.
At the Parliament lobby yesterday, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said there was still a need for research on whether it was suitable to have the two proposed nuclear plants in Malaysia.
He said the ministry would not establish nuclear plants in Malaysia if the evaluation on its feasibility revealed that it was not suitable to do so.
"Such research will take one to two years to complete.
"The decision will depend on the International Atomic Energy Agency," he told reporters.
He added that the recent explosions at nuclear plants in Japan could not be used to compare with Malaysia's plans as Malaysia did not encounter earthquakes.
At an earlier press conference, Charles Santiago (DAP–Klang) urged Chin to abandon the idea of setting up nuclear power plants.
"Japan embarked on nuclear energy because it lacked domestic fossil fuel alternatives.
"Malaysia has no such excuse because we have oil, gas, biomass, hydro resources and abundant sunshine," he said.
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