Conduct cost-benefit analysis on nuclear energy, ex-MP urges govt

 Charles Santiago says waste management and decommissioning costs must be considered before the government decides to adopt nuclear energy.

Charles Santiago said solar panels are more sustainable and cheaper than nuclear power and that their technology has improved tremendously.

PETALING JAYA:

 The government must consider all costs involved in nuclear energy, including waste management and nuclear plant decommissioning, before deciding to adopt it, says former Klang MP Charles Santiago.

Responding to deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof’s call for Malaysia to explore nuclear energy amid rising oil prices from the Middle East conflict, Santiago said the US$3 billion (RM12.03 billion) price tag for a small modular reactor (SMR) does not account for the toxic waste generated or its storage.

“There is also the cost of decommissioning such plants, which can sometimes cost five times more than putting them up. All these costs must be made public.

“Then there’s the question of who will pay for it,” the former National Water Services Commission chairman told FMT, urging for a proper cost-benefit analysis of nuclear energy.

Last July, Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, announced that MyPower Corporation was conducting a holistic study on the policies, legal frameworks, and local industry participation needed for a national nuclear energy programme.

SMRs, which have capacities of 100MW to 300MW, are among the options being considered, besides floating units and a full-scale 2,000MW plant.

According to the World Nuclear Association, all nuclear plants have a finite operating lifespan beyond which it is not economically feasible to operate them.

Newer plants are designed for lifespans of 40 to 60 years, at the end of which they must be decommissioned, cleaned up and demolished so that the site is made available for other uses.

‘Look at Chinese solar technology’

Santiago stressed that solar panels are more sustainable and cheaper than nuclear power and that their technology has improved tremendously.

He pointed to China, a pioneer in battery technology innovations that he said make solar energy a more stable and sustainable alternative to nuclear power.

“Malaysia has lots of sunlight. It is just a matter of tapping into it. Previously, we only had rooftops, now we have vertical solar panels, like how Singapore’s doing it.

“I think maybe the minister should pay a visit to China and learn how China is managing its solar ecosystem. That is the way Malaysia should go,” he said.

Santiago also highlighted Malaysia’s progress in renewable energy, noting that the share of renewables in the overall energy mix rose from 23% in 2020 to 31% in 2025.

He said the government’s current target is 35% by 2030, but urged Malaysia to be “brave” and aim for 50% instead, given global conflicts and the need for energy self-sufficiency. -  FMT