Nuclear waste can be generally classified a either "low level" radioactive waste or "high level" radioactive waste. Low level nuclear waste usually includes material used to handle the highly radioactive parts of nuclear reactors (i.e. cooling water pipes and radiation suits) and waste from medical procedures involving radioactive treatments or x-rays. Low level waste is comparatively easy to dispose of. The level of radioactivity and the half life of the radioactive isotopes in low level waste is relatively small. Storing the waste for a period of 10 to 50 years will allow most of the radioactive isotopes in low level waste to decay, at which point the waste can be disposed of as normal refuse.

High level radioactive waste is generally material from the core of the nuclear reactor or nuclear weapon. This waste includes uranium, plutonium, and other highly radioactive elements made during fission. Most of the radioactive isotopes in high level waste emit large amounts of radiation and have extremely long half-lives (some longer than 100,000 years) creating long time periods before the waste will settle to safe levels of radioactivity. This area will describe some of the methods being under consideration, for dealing with this, high level, waste. These include short term storage , long term storage, and transmutation.

The Malaysia Nuclear Agency (MNA) is a Malaysian nuclear technology research facility located in Bangi, Selangor.

Recently, MINT has been re-branded as Malaysia Nuclear Agency (Agensi Nuklear Malaysia).

Malaysia Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) has a role to introduce and promote the application of nuclear science and technology for national development.

Established in 19 September 1972, Malaysian Nuclear Agency was then known as Centre for Application of Nuclear Malaysia (CRANE) before it was formally named as Tun Ismail Atomic Research Centre (PUSPATI).

In June 1983, PUSPATI was placed under the patronage of Prime Minister Department and was called Nuclear Energy Unit (UTN). It was then placed under Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in October 1990. In August 1994, its name was changed to Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT).

On 28 September 2006, following its restructuring, MINT was given a new identity,which is Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia). Its strategic location, near higher learning institutions, besides its close proximity to the National Administration Centre, Putrajaya, and the Multimedia Super Corridor, Cyberjaya, has stimulated Nuclear Malaysia to meet its aspirations.

The rebranding followed mass restructuring of its organisation departments, human resource, and the re-alignment of its core business towards establishing nuclear power in Malaysia as an alternative form of renewable energy.

The Prime Minster of Malaysia, Najib Razak, delivered Malaysia's proposal to reduce its CO2 emission's to 40 per cent by the year 2020 compared with its 2005 levels, subject to assistance from developed countries. Copenhagen, Denmark. 17/12/2009.

Prime Minster of Malaysia Najib Razak had delivered Malaysia stand to reduce its carbon dioxide emission to 40 per cent by the year 2020 compared to 2005 levels subject to assistance from developed countries.

In his speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 at Copenhagen on 17th December, Najib said the cut was conditional upon receiving transfer of technology and adequate financing from the developed world.

United Nations data shows Malaysia's carbon emissions in 2006 stood at 187 million tonnes or 7.2 tonnes from each Malaysian.

However , like many leaders of developing countries, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak left the Danish capital, partially satisfied with the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) which ended Friday 18th December

The prime minister said although there was greater political commitments shown by leaders of developed nations, including United States president Barack Obama, it had not reached a level to fully address the main issues.

The Holmes Report, a New York-based publication that serves the public relations community, reported this week that the Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC), a government body formed in January to spearhead the deployment of nuclear energy, is understood to have shortlisted three firms for the sensitive project.

“It is understood that a formal pitch is yet to take place. A source involved in the process said that fees had not been confirmed, but were expected to be in the seven-figure range,” the report said.

The invitation for an international public relations effort to boost support for nuclear energy could spark controversy after the recent row over reports that Putrajaya paid RM58 million to FBC Media to burnish its international image on various international broadcast channels.

British media regulator Office of Communications (Ofcom) is probing programmes made by FBC Media for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

It is understood Putrajaya has now ended its contract with FBC Media after an exposé revealed Malaysian leaders routinely appeared in paid-for interviews on global television programmes on CNBC.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) terminated FBC Media’s contract earlier this month, just months after another public relations firm, APCO Worldwide from the United States, met an ignominious end for alleged links to Israel.

Global broadcasters, including CNN and CNBC, have been scrambling to contain any potential fallout after allegations of impropriety surfaced following the exposé by whistleblower Sarawak Report.

The latest plans to launch a publicity campaign for nuclear power also comes in the midst of public concern about nuclear safety, spurred by the ongoing crisis at the nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan.

According to briefing notes obtained by the Holmes Report, public relations counsel is being sought to ensure that stakeholders are able to make an informed decision about the proposed plan by that date.

“The bottomline: Malaysia has to be nuclear-ready and get [the] mandate of the public by 2013, when the government will make the final decision and reveal the site,” reads the brief, according to the report.

The Holmes Report also said boosting public support for nuclear power to above 50 per cent is a priority, along with managing concerns and issues.

“The brief indicates a substantial research component that will assess public opinion regarding nuclear energy and use these findings to devise a strategy to improve perceptions and support. The appointment is for an initial 24-month period, to be renewed on a yearly basis thereafter,” it said.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin had said in December 2010 that Malaysia plans to build two nuclear power plants that will generate 1,000MW each, with the first plant ready for operation in 2021 and the second plant a year later, as part of the overall long-term plan to balance energy supply.

“Hopefully, by 2013 or 2014, we will able to finish evaluating this. As for calling of tenders, we hope it will be done by 2016,” he told state-news agency Bernama in an interview then.

He said Malaysia was heavily reliant on gas and coal for its electricity supply and it was government policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel. Gas accounted for 64 per cent of the country’s energy generation while the remainder came from coal.

The country is running out of gas, and a new hydropower project will only provide sufficient power for East Malaysia, and not the remainder of the country.

Besides, Chin said, other sources of energy such as biomass and wind were too minimal while solar was a good potential but the technology was still very expensive.