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The Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia powers up nuclear push
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is moving closer to adopting nuclear energy as part of its long-term energy transition strategy. Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Chang Lih Kang (pic) said a pre-feasibility study on nuclear power has been completed. He said the initial findings showed that nuclear energy had strong potential to serve as a stable, clean and reliable power source for the country. 'In line with this, six technical task forces have been proposed to support nuclear energy readiness. 'Three of these are under Mosti, focusing on technology and industry development, development of nuclear competencies and a legal and regulatory framework,' Chang told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. The remaining three teams will fall under the purview of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, he said. Chang said the country now has 323 nuclear researchers under the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and 36 science officers under the Atomic Energy Department, holding qualifications in nuclear science and engineering. He said Malaysia was working to amend its Atomic Energy Act to enable the ratification of key international treaties and conventions under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'Once approved by the Cabinet, we aim to table the amended Act in this Parliament session. 'This will demonstrate Malaysia's seriousness in exploring nuclear energy as one of our power generation options,' he said. Chang also confirmed that Malaysia signed a strategic civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States on July 10, complementing its existing collaborations with China and Russia. 'The agreement will act as a catalyst for long-term cooperation in infrastructure development, joint research, technical training and local industry strengthening,' he added. He said Malaysia was also working closely with the IAEA through technical cooperation programmes, regional partnerships, the Asian Nuclear Cooperation Forum and coordinated research projects. Beyond power generation, he said, nuclear technology is also being used in climate and environmental research.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia moving closer to adopting nuclear energy, says minister
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Malaysia is working to amend its Atomic Energy Act to allow for the ratification of key international treaties and conventions under the IAEA. KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is moving a step closer towards adopting nuclear energy as part of its long-term energy transition strategy, with the government having completed a pre-feasibility study on nuclear power. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said the study's initial findings indicated that nuclear energy has strong potential to serve as a stable, clean and reliable power source for the country. 'In line with this, six technical task forces have been proposed to support nuclear energy readiness. 'Three of these are under the ministry, focusing on technology and industry development, the development of nuclear competencies and a legal and regulatory framework,' he said in Parliament on July 30. According to him, the remaining three teams fall under the purview of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry. The country currently has 323 nuclear researchers under the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and 36 science officers under the Atomic Energy Department, with 61 of them holding qualifications in nuclear science and engineering, according to Mr Chang. 'This reflects the country's continued commitment to building local expertise to support the safe and responsible advancement of nuclear technology,' he said. He added that Malaysia was working to amend its Atomic Energy Act to allow for the ratification of key international treaties and conventions under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'Once approved by Cabinet, we aim to table the amended Act in this Parliament session. 'This will demonstrate Malaysia's seriousness in exploring nuclear energy as one of our power generation options,' he said. Mr Chang also confirmed that Malaysia signed a strategic civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States on July 10, complementing its existing collaborations with China and Russia. 'The agreement will act as a catalyst for long-term cooperation in infrastructure development, joint research, technical training and local industry strengthening,' he added. He said Malaysia is also working closely with the IAEA through technical cooperation programmes, regional partnerships, the Asian Nuclear Cooperation Forum and coordinated research projects. Beyond power generation, nuclear technology was also being used in climate and environmental research, he said. 'This includes isotopic techniques for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, landslide management, ocean acidification and groundwater lifespan,' said Mr Chang. The IAEA recognises nuclear science as contributing to the 13th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on climate action, he added. In agriculture, Malaysia was also using nuclear-related techniques for plant mutation breeding to produce climate-resilient crops and to support disease control, he said. Responding to a question from Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, Mr Chang acknowledged that Malaysia still needs to ratify several international treaties before advancing nuclear development. He said local lab-scale extraction projects have shown encouraging results on thorium research , though Malaysia has yet to begin research and development on thorium-based power generation. 'We are progressively upgrading our research capabilities and working with countries such as China, India, Russia and the United States that have advanced expertise in this area,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia moving closer to adopting nuclear energy, says Chang Lih Kang
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is moving a step closer towards adopting nuclear energy as part of its long-term energy transition strategy, with the government having completed a pre-feasibility study on nuclear power, says Chang Lih Kang. The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said the study's initial findings indicated that nuclear energy has strong potential to serve as a stable, clean and reliable power source for the country. 'In line with this, six technical task forces have been proposed to support nuclear energy readiness. 'Three of these are under the ministry, focusing on technology and industry development, the development of nuclear competencies and a legal and regulatory framework,' he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 30). According to him, the remaining three teams fall under the purview of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry. According to Chang, the country currently has 323 nuclear researchers under the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and 36 science officers under the Atomic Energy Department, with 61 of them holding qualifications in nuclear science and engineering. 'This reflects the country's continued commitment to building local expertise to support the safe and responsible advancement of nuclear technology,' he said. He added that Malaysia was working to amend its Atomic Energy Act (RUUTA) to allow for the ratification of key international treaties and conventions under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'Once approved by Cabinet, we aim to table the amended Act in this Parliament session. 'This will demonstrate Malaysia's seriousness in exploring nuclear energy as one of our power generation options,' he said. Chang also confirmed that Malaysia signed a strategic civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States on July 10, complementing its existing collaborations with China and Russia. 'The agreement will act as a catalyst for long-term cooperation in infrastructure development, joint research, technical training and local industry strengthening,' he added. He said Malaysia is also working closely with the IAEA through technical cooperation programmes, regional partnerships, the Asian Nuclear Cooperation Forum and coordinated research projects. Beyond power generation, he said nuclear technology was also being used in climate and environmental research. 'This includes isotopic techniques for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, landslide management, ocean acidification and groundwater lifespan,' said Chang. The IAEA recognises nuclear science as contributing to the 13th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on climate action, he added. In agriculture, he said Malaysia was also using nuclear-related techniques for plant mutation breeding to produce climate-resilient crops and to support disease control. Responding to a question from Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim (PN-Kuala Terengganu), Chang acknowledged that Malaysia still needs to ratify several international treaties before advancing nuclear development. On thorium research, he said local lab-scale extraction projects have shown encouraging results, though Malaysia has yet to begin R&D on thorium-based power generation. 'We are progressively upgrading our research capabilities and working with countries such as China, India, Russia and the United States that have advanced expertise in this area,' he said.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Atomic Ambitions: Geopolitical Impact Of India's Nuclear Energy Reforms
India's move to open up nuclear power sector to private companies represents a notable shift in its energy strategy and a potential opportunity for private players Embracing adaptability in policymaking is crucial for navigating the complexities of a constantly changing world and ensuring that policies remain relevant, effective, and responsive to the needs of society. India is taking steps to open its nuclear power sector to private companies—a significant shift from its historically state-controlled approach. While the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 had restricted nuclear power generation to government-owned entities, recent policy changes and budget announcements indicate a push toward private sector involvement and global outreach. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who oversees the Department of Atomic Energy, recently said that India will be able to address the apprehensions of the private sector globally about investments in the civil nuclear sector, which was opened up to achieve the ambitious target of producing 100 GW of atomic power by 2047. He also stressed that changes in relevant rules and legislation will have to be made to facilitate the entry of the private sector in the field of nuclear energy, which is currently under the tight control of the government. This policy shift is driven by the need to attract private capital, potentially increasing India's nuclear capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It is a move that would require amendments to existing laws, and India is considering changes to the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 to allow private companies to build, own, and operate nuclear power plants. It may be recalled that in February this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, introducing the Union Budget for 2025, announced the creation of a new Nuclear Energy Mission for 'Viksit Bharat' and indicated amending laws that are limiting nuclear industry growth. Viksit Bharat 2047 represents the government's vision to transform India into a developed entity by its 100th Independence anniversary in 2047. The Finance Minister said that generating at least 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047 is 'essential for our energy transition efforts." She added: 'For an active partnership with the private sector towards this goal, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be made." She also said that a Nuclear Energy Mission for research & development into Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will be set up with an investment of Rupees 20,000 crores ($2.3 billion). At least five indigenously developed SMRs will be operational by 2033, she said. Many countries allow private sector participation in nuclear power generation, though the extent of this involvement varies significantly. The United States is a prime example, with large private sector participation in its civil nuclear industry. Some countries like Finland and the UK have also seen varying degrees of privatization in their nuclear sectors. Others, like China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, are also exploring or implementing public-private partnerships for nuclear power projects. Thus, it is a positive development that India is also taking the necessary steps to gradually open up to private investment in nuclear power by announcing plans to invite private companies to invest in nuclear electricity projects. Currently, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is the sole operator of nuclear power plants in India. The Atomic Energy Act of 1962 prohibits private sector control of nuclear power generation. The government is actively working to ease restrictions and attract private investment to expand India's nuclear capacity, and private investment is seen as crucial to achieving this goal. Amendments to existing laws are needed to allow private players to participate. The government is believed to be engaging with private firms like Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Power, and Vedanta Ltd. to potentially invest in new nuclear power plants. Under this proposed model, private companies could acquire land and water resources, invest in plant development, and undertake construction activities in areas outside the reactor complex. However, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) would still retain the rights to build and operate the plants and manage fuel. Private companies are expected to earn revenue from electricity sales, while NPCIL would operate the projects for a fee. India is also opening its nuclear power sector to foreign investment, allowing up to 49 per cent foreign direct investment, perhaps starting with a 26 per cent cap and increasing it in phases. It is estimated that the opening up of the nuclear sector could create a $100 billion market, attracting global players. Some companies (like Holtec International of the US) are seeking to transfer Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology to India. India is also looking to diversify its uranium fuel sources and expand its vendor base for specialised nuclear equipment. India's decision to open up its nuclear power sector to private and foreign investment has been met with a mix of positive reactions and cautious optimism globally. While some see it as a crucial step toward bolstering India's energy security and achieving its ambitious climate goals, others express concerns about potential risks and regulatory hurdles. Concerns remain about the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, which is considered by some to have been a barrier to foreign investment in the past due to its potential for high operator liability in case of accidents. The Indian Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 is a law establishing a framework for civil liability in the event of a nuclear incident. It aims to provide prompt compensation to victims and facilitate India's participation in international agreements regarding nuclear damage. The operator of a nuclear installation is held liable for damages, regardless of fault, in a nuclear incident. The government is looking to address concerns around liability and safety regulations to encourage private investment. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act imposes significant liability on operators, which may need to be addressed to encourage private investment. The history of nuclear regulation demonstrates a progression toward tighter controls and greater public and environmental protection, driven by lessons learned from past incidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. The current regulatory framework and ongoing advancements in safety protocols aim to ensure that nuclear power remains a safe and reliable energy source. In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plays a key role in ensuring safety when private companies operate nuclear facilities. Thus, ensuring robust safety protocols and regulatory oversight is crucial when private companies operate nuclear facilities. The Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (NIP) was established in 2015 to address liability concerns, creating a more secure environment for foreign investors. The Pool provides capacity for insurance coverage to operators and suppliers for any nuclear liability toward third parties under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. India's nuclear energy ambitions could have broader geopolitical implications, particularly in its relationship with countries like the US. The US has expressed intentions to remove barriers to civil nuclear cooperation with India, recognizing its potential for growth in the sector. In March 2025, the US Department of Energy approved the proposal from Holtec International to share Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology with India, removing a key hurdle that had delayed the deal. French and US companies have also expressed interest in partnering with Indian companies on SMR projects. The Russian nuclear company Rosatom has also offered its expertise in building SMRs in India. India has signed agreements with many countries for collaboration on nuclear energy, including the development of advanced reactors. Russia continues to be a key partner, involved in projects like Kudankulam and exploring areas like floating nuclear power plants and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). As regards the US, the 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement and more recent regulatory clearances, like the one granted to Holtec International for SMR technology transfer to Indian firms, are facilitating deeper engagement. France is collaborating in the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project located in Maharashtra and exploring collaboration in SMRs and research reactors. The Jaitapur plant will have six reactors, each with a capacity of 1,650 MW and involves technical cooperation with Electricité de France. With Canada, India has a uranium supply agreement and potential for collaboration in CANDU reactor technology and related services. CANDU is a type of nuclear reactor known for its use of heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a moderator and coolant, and natural uranium as fuel. CANDU reactors are a significant part of Canada's energy production, with some reactors also operating in other countries including Argentina, China, South Korea, Romania, India, and Pakistan. With South Korea, India has signed an intergovernmental agreement for civil nuclear cooperation, potentially opening avenues for South Korean companies to participate. top videos View all Summing up, the Indian government's move to open up the nuclear power sector to private companies represents a notable shift in its energy strategy and a potential opportunity for private players to contribute to the nation's nuclear power growth. This policy shift, alongside legislative amendments, aims to boost nuclear power generation and facilitate private sector participation, including international collaborations. The move is expected to attract foreign capital and technology, potentially transforming India's nuclear energy landscape. Addressing public concerns about nuclear safety and waste management is essential. While challenges remain, the government is taking the right steps to address concerns about liability, safety, and regulations to attract private investment and achieve its ambitious nuclear energy goals. Adapting to changing needs is indeed a cornerstone of effective policymaking. The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 13:58 IST News opinion Opinion | Atomic Ambitions: Geopolitical Impact Of India's Nuclear Energy Reforms Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India will address concerns of private sector on investments in civil nuclear segment: Minister
India will be able to address the apprehensions of the private sector globally about investments in the civil nuclear sector, which was opened up to achieve the ambitious target of producing 100 GW atomic power by 2047, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has asserted. Singh, who oversees the Department of Atomic Energy , said changes in relevant rules and legislations will have to be made to facilitate the entry of the private sector in the field of nuclear energy, which currently is under tight control of the government. "The announcement has already been made in the Union Budget, but we will have to frame rules, also possible legislation to actually move on, which will take a lot of consideration, a lot of introspection," Singh told PTI in an exclusive video interview. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech in February, announced the government's intention to amend key legislation, including the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, to facilitate private sector involvement. Currently, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) and NPCIL-NTPC joint venture company Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Limited (ASHVINI) can build nuclear power plants in the country. Scientists at the DAE are also developing the Bharat Small Modular Reactors ranging from 50 MW to 300 MW each for installation in thermal plants which have completed their operational life. Singh said the legislative changes to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act are aimed at addressing the concerns of the private sector that has been reluctant to invest in the nuclear power segment. "It is just that the suppliers, most of them private and most of them from the other countries, had their own apprehensions from a business point of view. I am sure in the course of time, we will be able to address that also, able to satisfy them and reassure them to venture in," Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said. Singh said the decision to open up the nuclear sector for private participation was more difficult than unleashing space sector reforms. "It has been possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal indulgence. Even the nuclear sector stakeholders are conditioned to work behind a veil of secrecy. They feel now this is the norm," he said. The minister said opening up the nuclear sector was crucial to realise the aim of India becoming a developed nation by 2047 and emerging as the top ranking economy globally. "If we have to realise this goal, our strategy has to be global. Because we are going to meet the global benchmarks. So global strategies require us to move in an integrated fashion, devoid of silos. And, therefore, we are now following the same course as it has been followed by the other developed countries," Singh said. The minister said the government had tried to address the apprehensions voiced by the foreign suppliers who had been allocated sites to develop nuclear power parks at Jaitapur in Maharashtra, Mithi Virdi in Gujarat and Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh about the liability laws. "India's position was very clear, but somehow there is some scepticism on the part of the suppliers. Soon after this government came, we made it abundantly clear, not once but more than once, that this is a misplaced apprehension," he said. The minister said in case of an incident, the first onus will be on the operator of the plant and then on the supplier and after a certain limit the insurance pool will come to the rescue. He said India is also signatory to the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage of those parties which are part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Currently, India produces 8780 MWe of nuclear power and plans to scale it up to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
