Amid intensifying climate pressures and soaring energy demands across Southeast Asia, ASEAN nations are increasingly viewing nuclear power as a strategic solution, with Indonesia, Phillipines and Vietnam leading the regional pivot toward atomic energy development. Electricity demand across ASEAN is expected to triple by 2050 from the 2020 level with the use of coal projected to increase by 91% to meet this surge in demand.
Finding reliable, sustainable solutions is now more critical than ever, and nuclear power is progressively being discussed as a necessary part of ASEAN’s future energy mix. Scientists globally have described nuclear power as the way to bridge the gaps in the energy transition, as it is not only clean, but also provides reliable baseload electricity.
Malaysia’s ongoing phase-out of coal-fired power plants, coupled with intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, underscores the critical need for a reliable, sustainable baseload power source. The integration of various energy sources into the national grid requires careful planning to ensure stability while meeting the country’s growing power demands and climate commitments.
With neighbouring countries including Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia all looking into nuclear as part of their energy transition planning, so too is Malaysia. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has said the government is carefully studying nuclear power as an official source of energy to help the country achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. As Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof emphasised, “Nuclear energy, recognised globally as one of the cleanest energy sources, is one option we are considering. At COP28, more than 20 countries committed to tripling their nuclear power generation, highlighting its relevance”.
Dr. Siti A’iasah, a prominent figure in the nuclear industry and founding member of Women in Nuclear (WiN) Malaysia shares her insights with Energy Watch on the potential of nuclear power, as well as its implications on the nation’s decarbonisation journey.
Mobilising women for a nuclear-powered future
WiN is a global non-profit organisation of professional women in the nuclear field with the aim of promoting public knowledge and awareness of the benefits of nuclear energy. With presence in over 145 countries, WiN has been a strong advocate for environmental sustainability, diversity, and gender equality in the nuclear industry.
Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim is a founding member of the Malaysian chapter of WiN Malaysia – where she was first elected as the Deputy Secretary, before her appointment to be President since 2019. Prior to joining WiN Malaysia, Dr. Siti had already made history by becoming the first women Director General of the Agensi Nuklear Malaysia (ANM) in 2021.
While Dr. Siti left government office in 2022, she is still active in promoting nuclear and radiation technologies, bringing over 30 years’ experience in the field to her work with WiN. “Nuclear and radiation technologies and applications benefit humanity in so many ways. Unfortunately, the term ‘nuclear’ bears a negative connotation,” she explains.
“The general public has to be informed of the facts in order to be assured that their safety and well-being are given the highest priority. WiN Malaysia wants to address their concerns by giving a human face to nuclear and radiation technology and returning the smile back to the atom – symbolised by the smiling atom in our logo”.
Going nuclear to secure the energy transition
A thimble-sized pellet of uranium produces as much energy as almost 3 barrels of oil, more than 350 cubic metres of natural gas and about half a tonne of coal . Beyond its energy intensity, nuclear power also has distinct advantages that are fundamental for securing the global pathway to net zero carbon emissions.
From cradle to grave, nuclear energy has the lowest carbon footprint and needs fewer materials and less land than other electricity sources. Uranium is also much more abundant than gold, platinum, and other rare metals – with over 100 to 150 years of enough uranium that is economically recoverable today.
Unlike many renewables like solar or wind, nuclear power doesn’t rely on the weather – producing maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year . Nuclear energy generation is so efficient that the amount of all spent fuel ever produced would, in theory, fit into just 42 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Beyond energy production alone, Dr. Siti underscored the wider impact of nuclear reactors for medicinal and industrial applications. “For instance, iodine-131, a radioisotope utilised in diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders, is produced through nuclear fission in reactors. Local production could make nuclear medicine more accessible to the public”.
These benefits are now being increasingly recognised by climate scientists, environmental activists, and global leaders from around the world. While nuclear energy still faces many challenges, including high upfront costs – smaller, safer, and more flexible reactors known as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are making it more accessible and cost-effective.
Investing in SMRs can be especially advantageous for remote areas that rely on fossil fuels-powered generators or plants, which have high carbon footprints. Funding opportunities could come from various investors and organisations interested in decarbonisation initiatives, as well as private investment houses.
Malaysia already has a strong foundation in nuclear expertise, having safely operated a nuclear research reactor for over four decades. From 2011 to 2019, the nation pursued nuclear power and established a Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO) following global guidelines.
As a result, Malaysia has also developed a significant pool of local nuclear talents – with the Jabatan Tenaga Atom, alongside technical support organisations like the Agensi Nuklear Malaysia (ANM) , both under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Investment (MOSTI), being internationally recognised as subject matter experts providing nuclear consultancy worldwide.
Nonetheless, Dr. Siti A’iasah highlights that nuclear energy can be a sensitive topic, given common misconceptions and a history of negative public perception. “Generally, the public has been conditioned to view nuclear energy with fear – with events like Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Fukushima and Chernobyl painting it in a negative light”.
“While these historical events cast a shadow over nuclear technology, it’s crucial to distinguish between military applications and peaceful civilian use,” she explains. “The tragic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki represent the devastating military use of nuclear technology, which is fundamentally different from modern nuclear power generation. Similarly, while incidents like Fukushima and Chernobyl were undoubtedly catastrophic, they served as catalysts for revolutionary improvements in nuclear safety protocols and technology.”
“Addressing these misconceptions requires transparent communication, education, and public engagement to build trust and understanding about the benefits and safety of nuclear energy.” She stresses the need to share information about current nuclear technology’s safeguards, pointing out that modern reactors are engineered with multiple redundant safety systems to withstand extreme conditions. When properly managed, nuclear power stands as one of the safest and most reliable low-carbon energy sources available, offering significant potential in the fight against climate change.
These educational efforts must also highlight the strict international frameworks governing nuclear technology, such as the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which helps ensure nuclear technology is primarily used for peaceful purposes while promoting international cooperation in safe nuclear power development.
On this note, Dr. Siti added that WiN Malaysia will continue its advocacy for nuclear energy by expanding its network of women nuclear professionals to offer mentorship, training, knowledge-sharing and support. This network ultimately aims to attract more women into the nuclear industry by addressing key challenges and promoting dialogues.
Leading the way for ASEAN’s nuclear ambitions
After years in the wilderness, nuclear power is now finally having its moment as the world races to find ways to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change. With strong foundations in sustainable energy, including nuclear, Malaysia has enormous potential to lead the way for ASEAN to integrate nuclear into the region’s pathway to net zero.
As for addressing nuclear power’s significant economic and financial challenges, Dr. Siti thinks the first step is to conduct economic viability studies to determine if nuclear energy is competitive for Malaysia. “This could also explore possible energy-sharing mechanisms within the region to reduce the financial burden on individual countries”.
Dr. Siti underscored that nuclear capacity building should be a regional agenda to ensure a sufficient local workforce of skilled workers and experts. Partnerships with universities and technical colleges would be effective for this development, ensuring successful implementation, operation, and maintenance of nuclear power plants.
“No ASEAN country has fully realised on nuclear power planning, presenting an opportunity for regional collaboration. This includes developing regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, security, safeguards, and environmental protection. Malaysia, with support from the government, stakeholders, and interested parties, can lead these collaborations.”
Ultimately, nuclear energy is a cross-border endeavor that requires close cooperation and collaboration on areas including safety, infrastructure, investments, and more. It is time for leaders to pull the necessary levers and make Malaysia’s and ASEAN’s green, nuclear-powered future achievable.