SE Asia eyes nuclear power

DESPITE safety fears, South-east Asia’s energy-hungry economies are exploring the nuclear option to keep up with escalating power demand in a region of more than half a billion people.

Vietnam plans to make its first nuclear plant operational in 10 years, while Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are all exploring the feasibility of tapping atomic energy. ‘Everybody wants aircon, everybody wants the latest appliances, so all these translate into demand for electricity,’ says Anthony Jude, director for the energy and water division with the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Detractors point to South-east Asia’s lack of experience in nuclear power and express doubts about the safety culture in a region prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Philippines built a nuclear plant in the 1970s but it was never operated commercially because of safety concerns and alleged corruption in the contract process.

But the concerns are surmountable, experts said. ‘You cannot say nuclear power plants in South-east Asia will necessarily be more dangerous than anywhere else,’ said Martine Letts, deputy director with the Sydney-based Lowy Institute for International Policy.

She pointed to international institutions such as the World Association of Nuclear Operators to get South-east Asia up to speed in nuclear power safety.

Malaysia laid out plans in May to build its first nuclear power plant by 2021 while in Singapore, the government has just started a feasibility study. Indonesia and Thailand have also considered nuclear power stations but face strong local opposition to the siting of reactors.

StraitsTimes

Tags: Vietnam energy, Vietnam nuclear power project