Notwithstanding the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents, two experts say nuclear energy remains a viable alternative to depleting natural gas for generating electricity. They tell MARIA J. DASS that it is cost-competitive compared to other power sources and with improved reactors, nuclear power plants can last 60 years or longer, making for supply stability.

Rising oil and gas prices and depleting reserves have forced the government to explore alternative energy sources.

Among the possible sources for the future are hydro and solar energy but these have limited supply capacity.

Nuclear technology is another option, despite concerns of safety following the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents, and of disposal of radioactive waste.

When met recently, Malaysian Nuclear Society president Dr Nahrul Khair Alang Md Rashid said the current 20-gigawatt capacity in the country may be sufficient for current needs, but we need to look at the future.

"Nuclear is a proven method of generating electricity and nuclear power plants have been in use since the 50s to produce electricity," he said.

"We now have about 400 nuclear power plants in the world in some 30 countries, with some operating for the past 40 to 50 years."

Nahrul said these plants supply about 16% of the world's energy demand. "Since 1986, the contribution of nuclear power to world electricity demand remains at around 16% to 17%.

"If that is so, it means that output has increased because our demand for electricity always increases, but supply from nuclear plants remains the same at 16%," said Nahrul, who is also Malaysian Nuclear Agency deputy director-general for research and technology development.

"This means that the technology is capable of supplying even more energy for future use, and it is very sustainable with the new reactors we have."

Asked if this was because there were more nuclear plants, Nahrul agreed but added that new plants incorporated improved technology, which can make the raw material last longer.

"Previously nuclear power plants were operational for at least 40 years, but now they can last up to 60 years or longer because the technology has improved," he said.

Another plus factor: "The cost of nuclear energy is still competitive compared to other power sources, (and) the byproducts of the fuel used can be reused in another reactor."

According to Atomic Energy Licensing Board director-general Datuk Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan: "It is like using one type of fuel and because of the nuclear reaction, it produces another type of fuel so we can prolong the life of the fuel.

"It's very interesting, it's like burning gas, which produces another gas, which can then be used as fuel again."

Raja Abdul Aziz was referring to plutonium which is the by-product of uranium from the reactor.

He said based on current operations, the raw material can last for 90 years and recycled for a further 700 years, "but by then you may already have another source of fuel".

"There has been a lot of debate (on) how we classify radioactive waste, but spent fuel is not radioactive waste, it is still a resource material which can be utilised," he said.

He explained: "A small pellet of uranium is equivalent to one huge carriage of coal, and while this amount of coal can be burnt for only one hour, the small pellet can produce energy for 18 months."

The advantages are multiple as the operation generates more energy and prolongs the use of raw materials.

"If you have a power station running on gas, if you run out of gas, you have to stop the turbine, but with this pellet you can continue for 18 months. So in the long term when you are talking about sustainable energy for the next 100 years - to live this particular lifestyle, air conditioning and all - we have to think about it," said Raja Abdul Aziz.

Nahrul added: "Imagine if you have supply disruption with this technology, you have an 18-month window for planning, but if it involves other sources like coal or gas, the window may be three months or less - depending on your stockpile."

As for hydro-electric power, Raja Abdul Aziz said: "We have used up all our hydro potential in the peninsula, and if you are talking about the hydro potential in Sabah and Sarawak, then there are transmission costs."

"Talking about transmission of electricity via undersea cables, look at what happened during the earthquake in Taiwan last month which damaged the undersea telecommunication cables and caused disruption of Internet services in several countries," quipped Nahrul.

"Imagine the havoc it will cause... if you are so used to electricity and for three days you don't have electricity... not only electricity, the water supply will also be affected because pumps will not be working," said Raja Abdul Aziz.

"Electricity should be produced where you want it the most," he added.

Asked about the public's concern over the use of nuclear energy, especially following the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island fallouts, Raja Abdul Aziz said a stringent security system has developed in the industry.

"Chernobyl was a very bad accident, in the Soviet Union at that time where power is might, the likelihood of an accident happening in a reactor is high because the reactor manager used his authority to overrule all security precautions," he said.

He said in the industry today, no one person makes an important decision as there are controls, back-up, duplicate and replicate in place.

"The control system is getting to be much more sophisticated, so if you talk about Chernobyl, you will be stuck in that era," said Raja Abdul Aziz.

Nahrul chipped in: "Chernobyl happened in 1979, and technology has moved on, so why zero in on Chernobyl when there are more than 440 nuclear reactors in operation in the world."

"One or two accidents out of the whole number, is that enough to discredit the technology?" he asked.

Raja Abdul Aziz said: "But we will not lie to you about the need for high standards of maintenance - and that's why you have the regulatory people to ensure that the promoters and the operators are within the limits of the system and regulation."

Apart from the safety watchdog, there are two more for safeguard and security.

"We have to watch what they do with the material and waste" as the technology can be used to make weapons, Raja Abdul Aziz said, adding that the government has an undertaking that no nuclear weapons will be developed.

The security aspect is to ensure that "people do not sabotage this peaceful reactor".

Raja Abdul Aziz also noted that the whole region is "going towards nuclear programme". "Even if we do not develop a nuclear power programme, we will still be here because the whole region is developing this technology - Vietnam, Indonesia - and because any accident is transboundary in nature, we are here to ensure that there is no contamination."

"We have several radiation monitoring stations which we have placed all over the country to make sure that there is no contamination.

"We are also meeting with our neighbours to ensure that their nuclear safety is on par with international standards."

So it is not just about Malaysia going into the nuclear power programme, it is about the whole of Southeast Asia going into the programme, said Raja Abdul Aziz, adding that like it or not, we are going towards nuclear power.

Asked if the country has a maintenance culture that could cope with the demands of a nuclear industry, he said: "We do have the maintenance culture and we are training the people who have even been absorbed by plants overseas, after they have been trained here."

Speaking of the role of the nuclear industry, Raja Abdul Aziz said: "All the gas pipes that have been laid out from north to south, and east to west of Malaysia are being monitored by radiation technology which is a part of nuclear technology but we license the operators and monitor them - check their work and so on."

During the recent floods in Johor, the department had to ensure that all 216 radiation centres (hospital x-ray and other services) in the state were secure. "We have to make sure that no equipment is carried away by the floods... if it is, we will have to look for it," said Raja Abdul Aziz, adding that any missing equipment or material posed a security threat.

As for waste, the department monitors its disposal to ensure that it does not end up just anywhere, and that it is treated "to ensure that people get the net benefit because if there is no net benefit to the people then it's our job to say no!" he said.

He cited three ways to get rid of waste:

• Delay and decay, where small volumes are left to dissipate.
• Compact and concentrate, where large quantities are compacted and set aside until the radioactivity is reduced.
• Dilute and disperse, where radioactivity is diluted to make waste safe for the environment.