Monday July 21, 2008 MYT 3:08:05 PM
Don’t reject possibility of using nuclear energy: Shaziman
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to venture into using nuclear energy as an alternative energy source should be considered in view of the rising fuel costs, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abd Aziz said.
He added that his ministry is working with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to prepare a memorandum to the Cabinet to outline the national direction on the usage of nuclear power as an alternative energy source.
Shaziman said the country shouldn't reject the possibility of using nuclear energy in the future.
However, there were issues that needed to be cleared before a decision could be made on using nuclear energy to generate electricity.
"The implementation of nuclear fuel facilities takes time by at least 12 to 15 years. Acts and regulations have to be tabled.
"The issue of nuclear waste management and educating the public need to be considered too," he told Senator Datuk S. Chandrasekar in Dewan Negara.
On renewable energy, Shaziman said the five-fuel policy was outlined in 2000, in which alternative energy such as biomass, biogas, municipal wastes, solar and hydropower energy could be used as additional energy resources to generate electricity.
He added from 2001, renewable energy developers were given incentives such as tax and investment incentives, while taxes and import duty exemptions were given for them to import equipment related to renewable energy.
Shaziman told Senator Lee Chee Keong that the promotion of the use of solar energy was introduced in 2005 with help from the United Nations Development Programme, in which about 1,500kW of solar power was expected to be generated during the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
"Malaysians, who can afford to make expensive renovations, should provide a small portion of funds to use solar energy in their homes to save costs and reduce power wastage," he added.
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