Malaysia Explores Nuclear, Wind And Gas Solutions In Energy Transition Talks With South Korea
From Harizah Hanim Mohamed
BUSAN, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is actively exploring best practices and the capabilities of clean energy and power plants, including nuclear and wind turbines, to suit the country’s needs, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said that this is aligned with Malaysia’s plan to add 8,000 megawatts (MW) of efficient gas-fired capacity by 2030 to provide a stable, bridging energy supply during its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, is in Busan, South Korea, until August 29, in conjunction with the 15th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (APEC EMM15) and a series of working visits.
“We conduct visits abroad and to foreign companies to assess their capabilities in turbine manufacturing. At the same time, it provides us with the opportunity to negotiate how they can support us, as Malaysia will also be building many more power plants.
“We hope they can assist, given that obtaining turbines is quite challenging,” he told reporters after visiting Doosan Enerbility, a leading plant expert of the power and water industry, in Changwon today.
Under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the government has set an ambitious target of 70 per cent renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2050, which requires at least RM637 billion in investments to upgrade the grid, install RE capacity and enhance energy storage, among others.
Fadillah emphasised that Doosan Enerbility has committed to finding ways to help Malaysia expedite the construction of power plants.
“The challenge we face now is that if we wait to obtain a turbine, the earliest would be after 2029,” he said.
Yesterday, Fadillah visited Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation. KHNP operates large nuclear and hydroelectric plants in South Korea, which supply about 31.56 per cent of the country’s electricity.
The Saeul Nuclear Power Site, located in Ulju County, is a key energy facility that plays a vital role in ensuring a stable electricity supply in South Korea. The site hosts four Advanced Power Reactor 1400 Megawatt (APR1400) reactors, with Units 1 and 2 already in commercial operation and supplying power to the grid, while Units 3 and 4 are under construction.
The APR1400 is South Korea’s next-generation nuclear power plant (NPP) model, offering world-class safety and economic efficiency. It is the same model used in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, exported to the United Arab Emirates.
-- BERNAMA