nuclear

by HIDAYATH HISHAM

MALAYSIA is preparing a new Atomic Energy Bill as part of efforts to lay the legal groundwork for nuclear power development in compliance with global safety and non-proliferation standards.

Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Deputy Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang (picture) said the ministry is currently drafting the bill and hopes to table it within the current parliamentary session, pending Cabinet approval.

“MOSTI is currently in the process of drafting the Atomic Energy Bill (RUTA) and hopefully, if we get Cabinet approval, we will be able to table it in Parliament this session,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Ahmad Amzad Hashim (PN–Kuala Terengganu), who asked about Malaysia’s readiness to ratify key International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocols and whether the country risks lagging behind ASEAN neighbours in small modular reactor (SMR) deployment.

Chang said Malaysia’s use of nuclear technology would be subject to international treaties, conventions and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The proposed bill, he added, is meant to show global stakeholders that the government is serious about exploring nuclear energy as a viable source.

On thorium-related research, he said extraction projects had been completed at the laboratory level with promising results, but research into thorium-powered electricity generation had yet to commence.

“So far, in our country, we’ve had a few thorium extraction projects and those extractions at the lab scale have been completed, showing very good and encouraging results. However, as for research and design (R&D) into electricity generation using thorium, that has yet to begin,” he said.

Chang added that Malaysia is progressively enhancing its research capacity with support from countries such as China, Russia, India and the US.

“With cooperation from other countries that have the expertise, such as China, Russia, India, the US and others, I am confident we will be able to implement this project effectively and we will not fall far behind our peers in the South-East Asian region,” he said.