By Sharen Kaur
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| France is ready to support Malaysia's civil nuclear energy ambitions if the Southeast Asian nation decides to include nuclear power in its long-term energy mix, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier said on Wednesday. Pic credit: Embassy of France in Malaysia |
KUALA LUMPUR: France is ready to support Malaysia's civil nuclear energy ambitions if the Southeast Asian nation decides to include nuclear power in its long-term energy mix, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier said on Wednesday.
The decision, however, rests entirely with the Malaysian government, which is still evaluating the option as part of a broader national discussion on the country's future energy mix, he said.
"I understood that it was a debate because it is the best way to decarbonise electricity and power production," Forissier told a press conference during his first official visit to Malaysia.
"They are studying it. They are having a national debate (on whether or not to pursue civil nuclear energy development)," he said.
Malaysia has been assessing the potential role of nuclear power in supporting its long-term decarbonisation goals, although it has yet to make a policy decision on adopting the technology.
Forissier said France, where about 60 per cent of electricity is generated from nuclear power, has extensive experience in developing and operating nuclear energy alongside renewable sources such as solar and wind.
He said France was prepared to share its technical expertise if Malaysia decides to embark on a civil nuclear programme.
"We are telling Malaysia that if you want to develop it (civil nuclear energy) to increase decarbonised electricity generation, we are ready to help.
"We want to build a long-term partnership because nuclear energy requires a long-term commitment, for about 50 to 80 years," he said.
On defence, Forissier said France would be open to discussions if Malaysia decides to explore alternatives following Norway's decision to revoke an export licence for a missile system intended for the country.
Asked whether France could step in as a replacement supplier, he declined to comment on Norway's decision but said Paris was ready to engage if approached by Kuala Lumpur.
"I don't want to make any comment on the withdrawal of Norway," he said, adding that France was ready to answer any questions if Malaysia wanted to engage.
Forissier said France and Malaysia have maintained long-standing defence ties, adding that France is one of the world's leading defence exporters with proven and reliable technology.
He said France accounted for more than 10 per cent of global defence exports and had reliable technology.
France is believed to be among several countries whose defence manufacturers are believed to be under consideration by Malaysia's Defence Ministry as potential suppliers to replace the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system for the Royal Malaysian Navy's Littoral Combat Ship programme.
Forissier is leading a delegation of more than 20 French companies to Malaysia, including firms specialising in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, as France seeks to deepen its investment and commercial ties with the country.
Earlier on Wednesday, he met Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang; and Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, to discuss cooperation in trade, innovation and the energy transition.
The visit reflects France's efforts to deepen its economic partnership with Malaysia, which it views as a strategic partner in Southeast Asia and a key player in strengthening resilient supply chains and industrial cooperation.
In a statement, Forissier described the visit as the latest sign of growing political and economic engagement between the two countries.
"This follows several recent high-level exchanges, including conversations between the two ministers of foreign affairs, the visit of the Malaysian minister of defence to the French aircraft carrier in March 2025, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's visit to France on July 3 and 4, 2025," he said.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/07/1484007/france-offers-nuclear-expertise-if-malaysia-pursues-civil-nuclear
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