Anti-nuclear sentiment stalls Malaysian nuclear plants

Public anxiety over nuclear power danger delays construction of two Malaysian nuclear plants.

The government plans to build two nuclear power plants to meet rising energy demand. The first plant is to be built by 2021 and the second in 2022.

Mohamad ZamZam Jaafar, CEO of Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation, said a feasibility study for the construction of the plants had been delayed by six months. He said the study might not be ready until late 2014, while construction of the first plant may be later than 2021.

He said the delays were due in part to public opposition to nuclear power following the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2011.

“Fukushima happened soon after we were set up. That put a damper on what we are trying to do,” ZamZam noted.

He said the feasibility study was being delayed in part because authorities were unable to visit proposed sites, fearing it would spark protests.