Bill allows govt to control use of nuclear power<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The nuclear power bill gives the government
\ncontrol over all nuclear-related activities and suggests
\nprotective measures to curb possible human and environmental
\ndisasters.<\/p>\n
At a press briefing, legislator Andi Mattalata said the House
\nof Representatives special commission on the bill finished its
\nfour-month-long deliberations yesterday with the unanimous
\ndecision to recommend the passing of the bill at the House
\nplenary session on Feb. 26.<\/p>\n
However, debate over the controversial bill looks set to
\npersist. Two observers and a legislator deplored the House
\ncommission's endorsement of the bill.<\/p>\n
Submitted by the government in January last year, the bill
\nreplaces the 1964 law on atomic energy and says an executive body
\nappointed by the President would be responsible for research and
\ndevelopment studies, exploration and exploitation of the
\nnecessary minerals, production of nuclear energy and radioactive
\nisotopes and the management of nuclear waste.<\/p>\n
The bill allows the body to cooperate with cooperatives and
\nstate-owned, private and foreign companies.<\/p>\n
Those companies and cooperatives would be able to use nuclear
\nenergy for commercial purposes, while the executive body would
\nnot.<\/p>\n
The companies must first meet a set of requirements decided by
\na President-sanctioned supervision body before they can be given
\npermits and approval to use the energy.<\/p>\n
Mattalata, who chaired the House's 87-strong special
\ncommission which discussed the bill, said yesterday that the
\nintroduction of compulsory permits was among the measures
\ndesigned to protect the public from potential nuclear
\ncatastrophes.<\/p>\n
Other protective measures stipulated are insurance,
\ncompensation and penalties against companies who misuse nuclear
\npower.<\/p>\n
The compensation limit to victims of nuclear accidents is Rp
\n900 billion (US$391 million). People who misuse nuclear power
\nface a maximum penalty of a life sentence or a Rp 1 billion fine.<\/p>\n
According to the bill, the government has to consult with the
\nHouse if it plans to build a nuclear power plant. The government
\nmust also listen to advice given by an independent nuclear power
\nadvisory council which groups experts and public figures.<\/p>\n
Critics<\/p>\n
I Nengah Sudja, a retired employee of the state-owned
\nelectricity company PLN, said in a discussion held by the
\nIndonesian Association of Catholic students that there were
\n"economically and politically cheaper and safer alternatives" to
\nnuclear power plants.<\/p>\n
"I believe other alternatives like steam or coal electricity
\nplants would be adequate for our future electricity needs," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sudja was referring to the government's plan to develop a
\nnuclear plant near Mount Muria in Jepara, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Nuclear expert Iwan Kurniawan said the government must let the
\npublic decide whether Indonesia should build nuclear power
\nplants. The people should first be thoroughly informed about both
\nthe positive and negative aspects of nuclear power plants.<\/p>\n
He doubted that Indonesia was ready for nuclear power and
\nsuggested the nation learned from the Chernobyl tragedy in the
\nformer Soviet Union on April 26, 1986, that occurred as a result
\nof carelessness and a lack of knowledge about safety.<\/p>\n
Iwan said leaked radiation would take thousands of years to
\ndisappear and that there was currently no cure for the illnesses
\nit caused.<\/p>\n
"We don't even have sites to dump nuclear waste, although I
\nheard the government has named two islands near Madura," he said.<\/p>\n
Mire Priyonggo, of House Commission X for national development
\nplanning, research and technology, said one of the islands
\nsuggested was Kambing island.<\/p>\n
Mire regretted the statement by a National Atomic Agency
\nofficial who said nuclear energy would be "a blessing for our
\nnation".<\/p>\n
"Adam and Eve also believed that the apple was a blessing and
\nate it. They were cast from Eden. Where will we be cast if we
\ninsist on using nuclear energy?" she said jokingly. (amd\/08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bill-allows-govt-to-control-use-of-nuclear-power-1447893297",
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