Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has to relook the whole energy triangle, including the possibility of adopting nuclear energy, in order to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, said Deputy Minister of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA), Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Akmal Nasrullah emphasized the need to maintain the affordability, sustainability, and security of the energy supply. He questioned the replacement of the country’s base load, stating that although nuclear is not classified as renewable energy, it is regarded as a clean source of energy production. He expressed his belief that without the inclusion of nuclear energy, Malaysia may not meet its net-zero target by 2050.

Akmal Nasrullah participated as a panelist in a dialogue session titled ‘Delivering Malaysia’s Energy Transition’ at the Energy Asia 2025 conference. He highlighted that since the launch of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) in 2023, there has been a shift not only in energy production but also in consumption dynamics.

NETR’s goal is to achieve 70 percent renewable energy in the energy mix by 2050, with solar and hydro energies playing major roles, while natural gases act as transition fuels. Akmal Nasrullah urged both the government and the public to embrace the adoption of nuclear energy to help the country realize its net zero mission.

He underscored the necessity for Malaysia to seriously consider adopting nuclear energy. He expressed hope that when the government decides to fully embrace nuclear energy, the public will also be prepared to accept this reality as a crucial step in achieving the 2050 net zero target.