France's Proposal For Malaysia's Civil Nuclear Future | Bernama World

[00:00:01][music] >> Welcome back. You're watching Bernama World. Now, as Malaysia plans for its future energy needs, the government is looking at different sources of power.

[00:00:15]One option being studied is civil nuclear energy using nuclear power to generate electricity. The idea is still being studied and no decision has been made. Now, during a recent visit to Malaysia, France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Nicolas Forestier, said France is ready to share its experience if Malaysia decides to develop civil nuclear energy in the future. Now, the question is, what can Malaysia learn from France's experience? Joining me to discuss this is His Excellency Marc Baréty, Ambassador of France to Malaysia. Your Excellency, thanks for joining us. Now, how does France view Malaysia's growing interest in exploring nuclear energy options? Your Excellency.

[00:01:01]>> Well, thank you for having me. As you said, so Minister Forestier, the French Minister for Foreign Trade, was in KL a week ago.

[00:01:11]He met with the Minister for Trade and Industry, the Minister for Science and Innovation, the Deputy Minister for Energy Transition, and each In each meeting, he discussed about nuclear energy. And he confirmed that France was ready to support Malaysia's nuclear energy ambition if I I insist on the if the Malaysian government, I mean, decides to include nuclear power in its long-term energy mix.

[00:01:40]It's of course a matter of sovereignty.

[00:01:44]And you know, it's not the first time that we have been discussing about nuclear energy.

[00:01:49]Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah visited France more than a year ago, and he visited a power plant also. So, we we think that Malaysia is facing increasing energy demand, and we we are aware also of the increasing number of data centers.

[00:02:09]Uh Malaysia has also committed to carbon neutrality by 2050.

[00:02:18]Uh and clearly, there is a need, I mean, to transition from a fossil fuels to robust baseline power source. And nuclear energy is reliable, low-carbon electricity.

[00:02:36]And it's also a possibility to create a high-skilled jobs. And so, this is why, I mean, France views Malaysia as exploring this use of nuclear energy as a very positive development.

[00:02:53]And we stand ready, I mean, to further discuss with the relevant Malaysian authorities about this perspective. Myself, I met recently the MyPower agency. Uh and we follow we follow also all the development here in Malaysia. We know that Malaysia is following a IAEA milestone approach, and we think that this is a very clear indication of the seriousness of how Malaysia is approaching, I mean, this this perspective.

[00:03:26]>> Now, your Excellency, if Malaysia eventually decides to include nuclear energy in its future energy mix, what forms of cooperation could France offer?

[00:03:37]>> Well, as you know, I mean, France has has has decades of operational experience of nuclear energy.

[00:03:44]So, we could, of course, share much more about how we structured a nuclear program and all the different building blocks of a an ecosystem.

[00:03:56]We can of course start I mean with the the the framework for the regulatory framework, but also nuclear safety requisites and also about radiation protection.

[00:04:09]And and it's I think the first step is to establish a national independent safety authority that will meet the IAEA requirements. As you know, France has a cutting-edge scientific institutions such as CEA, so the Atomic Energy Commission and also set up some training bodies specialized in civilian nuclear energy.

[00:04:36]And that's something also that we can offer to Malaysia. We think that we have also an experience on how we can share also about the green management and and we can share with this with the Malaysia. As you know, the nuclear energy can also be contribute I mean to the ASEAN power grid program. And last but not least, I would also mention that in when you develop a nuclear energy program, the public acceptance is absolutely critical and especially when you are a newcomer country. So you see many areas because it's all ecosystem that you have to develop.

[00:05:24]>> Now, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forestier recently noted that around 60% of France's electricity is generated from nuclear power. And without delving into the technical aspects, Your Excellency, what broader lessons from France's energy journey could be relevant to countries seeking to balance energy security, affordability, as well as decarbonization goals.

[00:05:52]>> Yes, I I think the key lessons it's that diversifying electricity mix is absolutely essential. So, as you said, I mean, in France it's a 68% of our electricity mix which is based on nuclear energy in 2025.

[00:06:11]And that contributes to ensure, I mean, the resilience of our our grid.

[00:06:19]And I think this is absolutely vital because then it can generate, I mean, large volumes of electricity.

[00:06:27]And and so there is no base load power without and to avoid, I mean, any fluctuation, I mean, I would say in the the base load power. So, now we are also very much aware, I mean, about the fact that um energy security is vital for our our economies. It's It's something a lesson that we learned in France in the '70s when we were confronted, I mean, to the all shock.

[00:06:55]And we are now with the situation in the Middle East and in the almost straight even more aware of this. So, we need to develop this to ensure our independence and our sovereignty. And I would add also maybe from our own experience the need to plan long in advance because developing a nuclear energy program it's a decades long commitment.

[00:07:24]So, you it's very important, I mean, to also integrate, I mean, the how you you have to develop the all different components of a nuclear ecosystem.

[00:07:35]>> Now, your Excellency, many countries are revisiting nuclear energy as they work towards their net zero ambitions as well. Have you observed a shift in global attitudes towards nuclear energy in recent years, particularly in the context of climate change and energy security?

[00:07:50]>> Absolutely. Absolutely, we have seen a broad form geopolitical environment shift in recent years. Of course, due to what you just said about the the objective of net zero. But also because now you have a many nations, I mean, will realize that wind solar, alone, I mean, cannot meet the the the total base load demand. And I would add also the the current crisis in in in Middle East, which has also contributed to to increase awareness.

[00:08:29]So, this need for energy security it's something that is clearly indispensable tool of of sovereignty.

[00:08:40]And we have seen that in the recent summit in Paris that we organized on nuclear energy, even the European president of the commission, the president of the European Commission, sorry, acknowledged that it was, I quote, a strategic error. That the the the fact that in Europe we reduced the share of nuclear power in our electricity mix.

[00:09:08]And so, we see, I mean, several countries who are now working to extend also the lifespan of their existing nuclear reactors or to build new units. It's the case with France. We are engaged in a program to build six additional EPR reactors.

[00:09:29]And I also noted that even financial institutions are now starting to include nuclear energy in the green financing taxonomies. So, clearly there is a dramatic shift moving in the direction of developing further nuclear energy.

[00:09:48]>> Your Excellency, thank you for your time and for sharing your perspective with us. That's all the time that we have for now. We look forward to speaking with you again. That was His Excellency Marc Basset, Ambassador of France to Malaysia. More global updates coming up.

[00:10:02]This is The World on Bernama TV.

[00:10:07]>> [music]