Much of the discussion was reignited at the World Atomic Week International Forum from Sept 25 to Sept 28 in Moscow, organised by Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, where industry leaders laid out the case for nuclear power.
Why nuclear?
Malaysia has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 under its National Energy Transition Roadmap, launched in 2023. But despite growing investment in renewables, coal and gas still dominate the grid.
New industries, foreign investment, and the boom in data centres are rapidly driving up consumption. Malaysia has received data centre power applications exceeding 11 gigawatts – almost 40% of Peninsular Malaysia’s current capacity.
Asean Centre for Energy executive director Razib Dawood warned that without bold choices, Malaysia risked higher costs and even nationwide shortages.
“This energy demand from artificial intelligence and data centres is huge because of the chip computing time,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the forum.
Sabah alone has faced frequent power reliability issues. In September, a blackout hit more than 230,000 consumers across six east coast districts after a high-voltage transmission tower collapsed during heavy rain and landslides.
Speaking to reporters, World Nuclear Association director general Sama Bilbao said the world might not have many options left for clean, large-scale, round-the-clock electricity.
“If you want to do this in a way that is clean and 24/7, you don’t really have too many choices,” she said.
Safety and efficiency
Nuclear power is often compared to aviation – feared by some, yet statistically among the safest when measured by fatalities per unit of energy or passenger mile.
Plants have operated for decades under strict regulations, supplying around 10% of the world’s electricity.
“Nuclear facilities are incredibly robust. For example, the Russian nuclear industry has operated for 80 years.
“Nuclear plants worldwide have run safely, providing 10% of global electricity in a very quiet, humble way,” Bilbao said.
Nuclear fuel is also deemed one of the most efficient energy sources. According to the US department of energy, one uranium pellet – about an inch tall – generates as much energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 120 gallons of oil, or one tonne of coal.
Bilbao also said the nuclear industry had managed the issue of nuclear waste using a closed-cycle system.
“There is no other energy source which can tell you that every single gram of waste produced globally in the past 80 years is properly managed.
“It’s either in internal storage, being recycled, or safely separated from the environment without any impact,” she said.
The nuclear agency chief added that nuclear plants could provide high-skilled jobs for three generations due to their century-long lifespan.
Regionally left behind?
Globally, 32 countries operate nuclear plants, and around 50 more are preparing programmes. In Asean, several neighbours are already taking steps.
The Philippines is targeting up to 4,800MW of nuclear power by 2050, Vietnam has reintroduced nuclear power into its power plan, and Indonesia is exploring small modular and floating reactors with a 2030s timeline. Thailand meanwhile has signed cooperation agreements to study SMRs.
In July, energy transition and water transformation minister Fadillah Yusof announced that MyPower Corporation had been appointed as the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation, tasked with preparing feasibility studies on technology, regulation, financing and public engagement.
Malaysia is weighing three main pathways:
- A full-scale 2,000MW plant, enough to power roughly two million homes – roughly the whole of Penang;
- Small modular reactors (100-300MW), suitable for hubs such as Pengerang in Johor or Samalaju in Sarawak; and
- Floating units, ideal for islands such as Labuan or Langkawi.
However, experts caution that technology alone will not secure nuclear’s future.
“Very serious conversations need to take place with the public and all stakeholders in the community to ensure that everyone understands what this means. Only then can you move forward,” Bilbao said.
In Russia, those conversations begin early, with nuclear education starting in kindergarten and continuing through youth programmes. At World Atomic Week itself, a youth programme ran from Sept 26 to Sept 28, part of efforts to build acceptance of the industry from a young age.
As the clock ticks toward 2050, Malaysia’s decision on nuclear energy could determine whether the country succeeds in meeting its net-zero pledge.