00:00Nuclear energy is experiencing a global revival, driven by the race to cut carbon emissions.
00:07This renaissance is already gaining relevance in ASEAN.
00:10But is this revival mainly driven by trends, or is going nuclear the best way for ASEAN to keep carbon
00:17emissions down?
00:18That is the question raised by MyPower Cooperation, the government agency under the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry,
00:26tasked with coordinating electricity sector reforms and nuclear power planning.
00:32Before answering that question, let us take a look at our power needs.
00:36Southeast Asia's demand for electricity is projected to rise by 25% by 2035.
00:44At the same time, many ASEAN countries have pledged to achieve net zero emissions.
00:50Renewable energy will be central to this transition.
00:53But can it alone deliver power at the scale required?
00:57If not, what other options are available?
01:00To start, solar and hydropower remain essential.
01:04However, higher levels of renewable energy also require major investments in storage, transmission, and grid flexibility.
01:12That is why countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are exploring nuclear energy.
01:18In Malaysia, MyPower Cooperation has been tasked with assessing the country's readiness for the development of a nuclear power program
01:27across several vital areas.
01:30Malaysia still generates about 80% of its electricity from coal and natural gas.
01:35With coal-fired power plants set to be phased out by 2044, introducing a reliable replacement will be the challenge.
01:44Nuclear energy should be viewed as a complement to renewable energy, not a replacement for it.
01:50For MyPower Cooperation's full discussion, read its letter to the editor,
01:55Can ASEAN decarbonize without nuclear power? on FMT.
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