Nuclear energy partnership the way forward for S'pore and M'sia, says researcher
PETALING JAYA : Incorporating a nuclear energy partnership into the Johor-Singapore special economic zone (JS-SEZ) will mark the way forward for collaboration between Malaysia and Singapore, argues an energy transition researcher.
Victor Nian, the founding co-chairman of the Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, said as JS-SEZ is set to become a defining project for industrial and economic collaboration between the two nations, it will need 'stable, 24/7 carbon free energy'.
In a commentary published by Channel News Asia, he said current clean energy solutions could not quite keep up with the energy-intensive sectors the JS-SEZ hoped to attract.
'Solar energy cannot provide round-the-clock reliability even with battery energy storage, while hydrogen is expensive and lacks infrastructure and regulations for large industrial applications.
'Nuclear energy, on the other hand, offers a more realistic solution. It has been proven to provide reliable baseload electricity with zero emissions, such as in France, Spain, South Korea and the US,' he said.
Linking the border regions of both countries, the JS-SEZ is nearly twice the size of China's Shenzhen – a success story that Malaysia is hoping to emulate.
Nian pointed to the Krsko nuclear power plant in Slovenia near the Croatian border, the ownership of which is split equally between Slovenia and Croatia, with both nations sharing the electrical output and responsibility for nuclear waste.
'Krsko has delivered stable electricity to both countries for decades.
'A similar model could work for the JS-SEZ, bringing together Malaysia's land availability and regulatory readiness and Singapore's financing capabilities and intention to import clean energy from the region,' he said.
Nian also said there is an opportunity for collective technology transfer and supply chain development, pointing to how Japan, South Korea and China have strengthened domestic nuclear industries through partnerships with established nuclear states.
'The JS-SEZ could do the same for Malaysia and Singapore. Talent development is already stated as a goal of the JS-SEZ.
'Nuclear energy requires a highly skilled and well-educated workforce. Both Malaysia and Singapore have the ability and the motivation to form academic and vocational training programmes supporting the nuclear energy sector,' he said.
Nian said while such a partnership would not be easy to pull off, there is a clear path to success that builds on the existing relationship between the two countries and past efforts.
He underlined the need to address domestic social and political sensitivities and geopolitical considerations, and called for both nations to collaborate in doing so.
'Again, there are international examples to follow. South Korea and Finland engaged with their citizens to build support for nuclear adoption.
'A Singapore-Malaysia endeavour would need to proactively be transparent in communication and initiate public consultations and educational initiatives to help shape public attitudes,' he said.
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