MALAYSIA KEEN TO DEVELOP SMALL-SCALE NUCLEAR REACTOR

From Khairdzir Yunus

JEJU ISLAND (South Korea), June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is very keen to
emulate South Korea in developing a small-scale nuclear reactor for power
generation as it is more economical, said Najib Tun Razak Tuesday.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said this was because South Korea had an edge
over the other countries in terms of technology for small-scale nuclear reactors
where 40 per cent of the country's power needs came from various types of
nuclear reactors, whether large or small scale.

Najib said this to Malaysian reporters when asked to comment on the outcome
of the his meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak after the
conclusion of the Asean-Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit, here
Tuesday afternoon.

He said the small-scale nuclear reactor was very safe that it could be built
next to an urban area that needed electric power.

It could generate between 200,000 and 300,000 kilowatt of energy, he said.

And the Korean President has told me that the cost (of generating electric
power) is one-third of the cost of (producing electricity) using a coal-powered
station, and this means that there is much room for us to look deeper into it.

"As such, I have decided to ask the Minister of Energy, Green Technology
and Water, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation to visit Korea
as soon as possible and study the green technology mentioned earlier, which can
be adopted in the context of Malaysia's needs," he said.

Najib said he was most interested in the development of low-carbon green
technology, which was developed by South Korea, because it was in line with his
agenda and thinking with the creation of the green technology ministry.

On the "Green Growth, Green Asia" exhibition on the South Korean green
technology held at the Jeju International Convention Centre (ICC), here, which
he had visited together with President Lee and other Asean leaders this morning,
Najib said he had observed many new and interesting things which could be
applied in Malaysia.

"These include their efforts to clean their rivers and river banks and,
in the process, create thousands of additional jobs. The cost of its development
for every four large river basins is in the region of USD50 million -- which is
not a very high figure.

"Secondly, I am impressed with the 'membrane technology' in the 'water
purification' process. There is a possibility that it has good potentials in
our country," he said.

He said alternative energy such as solar and wind energy had also been used
effectively in Korea, and Malaysia would look into it deeply.

Meanwhile, he said next year would be the 50th anniversary of bilateral
relations between Malaysia and South Korea and in this context, the Korean and
Malaysian governments, through their respective foreign ministers, were thinking
of the projects or programmes that could be implemented to reflect the cordial
relations between the two countries.

"On behalf of the Malaysian government and the King, I have
invited the Korean President to visit Malaysia next year as it can be the
culmination of the celebrations and activities to mark the 50th anniversary of
bilateral relations between Malaysia and South Korea," he said.

Najib said the Korean President had also expressed satisfaction at the
cooperation in other fields such as the joint-venture project between Petronas
and the Korea national oil company to develop new areas in third countries.

"This, he said, can become a new model where the markets in third countries
can be exploited jointly by Malaysia and Korea," Najib said.

He said Malaysia was also invited to participate in the 'Global Expo'
organised by Korea which would be held in 2012.

Najib, who was accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, later left
for China for his first official visit to that country as Prime Minister.

-- BERNAMA