Published: Tuesday June 30, 2009 MYT 9:34:00 PM
France offers to build nuke plant in Malaysia
By CHOI TUCK WO
PARIS: France has offered to help Malaysia build its first nuclear power plant as an alternative source of energy supply, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said France had very advanced nuclear power technology which provided nearly 90% of its energy needs.
“They have also invited Malaysian experts to visit France to discuss the benefits of developing such a plant,” he said when briefing Malaysian journalists Tuesday on his talks with Elysee Palace secretary-general Claude Gueant.
According to a recent report, Tenaga Nasional Bhd hoped to start its first nuclear power plant by 2025 once it gets the go-ahead from the Government.
Muhyiddin said Gueant, who is a senior advisor to President Nicolas Sarkozy, also hoped to send French teachers to Malaysia to assist in the teaching of the language.
They also agreed to encourage high-level ministerial visits, including Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, to Malaysia.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said he had met his French counterpart Luc Chatel to discuss ways to improve the level of co-operation between both countries.
He said they agreed that such collaboration should focus on education matters such as technical, vocational and teacher training programmes.
A “Malaysia Week” is being planned in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to Paris in October. He has been invited to address the 35th Unesco General Conference’s first plenary session there.
Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili will be leading a ministry delegation on a five-day visit to South Korea from Sunday which, among other things, will study the country’s advancement in its nuclear power programme.
His itinerary includes a visit to the Energy Farm and Kori Nuclear Power Plants operated by Korean Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd in Gori in Busan, as well as the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejon.
South Korea has 20 power plants in operation, eight under construction and another 10 under planning.
In a Ministry statement, Ongkili said: “The nuclear plants are also said to be zero-risk with monitoring done every 15 seconds. South Korea is able to build safe nuclear reactors right next to villages.”
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