Kuala lumpur: France is ready to collaborate with Malaysia on civil nuclear energy development if Malaysia decides to pursue this option as part of its energy transition efforts, said French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier. However, he said the decision rests with Malaysia's government, as it is still evaluating the option through national discussions and debates.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Forissier mentioned that he understood the ongoing debate in Malaysia as it represents a way to decarbonise electricity and power production. Discussions with members of the Malaysian government revealed that they are in the process of studying and debating the possibilities of civil nuclear energy development in the future.
Forissier highlighted France's extensive expertise in nuclear energy, noting that approximately 60 percent of the country's electricity is generated from nuclear power, with the remainder coming from renewable sources like solar and wind. France is prepared to share its experience and technical know-how should Malaysia decide to incorporate nuclear energy into its future energy mix.
He expressed France's willingness to assist Malaysia in developing civil nuclear energy to boost decarbonised electricity generation, emphasizing that a long-term partnership is essential due to the nature of nuclear energy, which requires a commitment of about 50 to 80 years.
During his first official visit to Malaysia, Forissier was accompanied by a delegation from over 20 French companies, reflecting strong interest in deepening the economic partnership between the two nations. The visit is seen as a continuation of increased political engagement between France and Malaysia over the past few years.
In a separate statement, Forissier noted that this visit follows several high-level exchanges, including conversations between the two ministers of foreign affairs, the Malaysian minister of defence's visit to a French aircraft carrier in March 2025, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's visit to France on July 3 and 4, 2025.