Batan boss replaced for unclear reasons<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday installed Iyos S. Subki
\nas director general of the National Atomic Power Agency (Batan)
\nreplacing long-serving Djali Ahimsa, Antara reported. The news
\nagency did not state the reasons for the change.<\/p>\n
Iyos is an old hand in the agency, having led the team doing
\nthe site and feasibility study of Indonesia's proposed first
\nnuclear power plant in the Muria Peninsula in Central Java.<\/p>\n
Iyos said yesterday the necessary technical studies have been
\ncompleted and the agency is only waiting for the government's go-
\nahead.<\/p>\n
The study concludes that Muria is \"ideal\", he said.<\/p>\n
\"Technically, the nuclear power plant could start operation in
\n2004,\" he told reporters shortly after being installed by
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono.<\/p>\n
The Batan studies looked into the commercial and environmental
\naspects of the plant, he said, adding that the studies are
\nreliable.<\/p>\n
The government is now studying other factors such as the
\nsociocultural and sociopolitical aspects, and mostly, the funding
\naspect, he said.<\/p>\n
Environmental activists, fearing a potential nuclear
\nholocaust, have deplored the government's nuclear designs.<\/p>\n
Although the project is still in the early stages and
\nconducting feasibility studies, critics have said the decision to
\ngo nuclear would be a fait accompli once the studies are
\ncompleted.<\/p>\n
Before making a decision the government should put the plan to
\npublic debate, they say.<\/p>\n
The government has insisted that nuclear power is a last
\noption, but one that should be kept viable for Indonesia in view
\nof the rapidly increasing demands for energy and depleting
\nhydrocarbon resources.<\/p>\n
The official position was echoed by Iyos who said that it is
\nno longer a question of \"yes and no\".<\/p>\n
\"Nuclear energy is an alternative. It is a blessing we have to
\nmake use of,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said a nuclear power plant does not carry a greater risk of
\naccident compared with other power plants.<\/p>\n
Statistics show there is a one-in-a-million chance of an
\naccident happening at a nuclear power plant, while the risk is
\none-in-a-thousand for non-nuclear plants, he said.<\/p>\n
But even if that one-in-a-million chance did occur, the
\ngovernment has taken precautions to minimize the risk of
\nradiation, by building emergency systems within the plant and the
\ninstallation, he said.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives is currently debating a
\ngovernment bill on the use of nuclear power in the country. Once
\nendorsed it would pave the way for the construction of the
\ncountry's first nuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
The House held a marathon debate on the bill with State
\nMinister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie this month,
\nprompting criticisms from environmental groups that the House had
\nbeen compromised on the issue.<\/p>\n
Iyos said the bill does not bear a direct relationship to the
\nstudy conducted by his agency. The bill looks at all the
\nactivities related to the use of nuclear technology, he said.<\/p>\n
He said that once the bill was endorsed, the task of managing
\nand supervising nuclear facilities, both currently in the hands
\nof Batan, would be separated.<\/p>\n
\"Really, the question now is how do we make use of nuclear
\ntechnology in a humane and just way,\" he said. (emb)<\/p>",
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