Going nuclear<\/p>\n
Objections from environmentalists and other concerned groups
\nnotwithstanding, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a
\ngovernment-sponsored bill on nuclear energy which levels the way
\nfor the government to build Indonesia's first nuclear power plant
\non the Muria peninsula on the north coast of Central Java by the
\nyear 2003.<\/p>\n
Although authorities have repeatedly denied the bill is
\ndesigned to push through the government's plan without the need
\nto hold a referendum, as opponents have demanded, the provisions
\ncontained in the draft make it possible for the government to do
\njust that. Article 13 of the bill states that the \"construction
\nand operation of commercial nuclear reactors is determined by the
\ngovernment after consultation with the House of Representatives\".<\/p>\n
Given the existing political balance in this country and the
\nfact the government has obviously set its mind on going ahead
\nwith the plan, the outcome of the final deliberations in the
\nnational legislature yesterday can hardly be called a surprise.
\nWhat may astonish many, though, is the speed with which the issue
\nwas resolved -- in favor, of course, of Indonesia going nuclear,
\nat least in its energy supply. It took the House members -- most
\nof whom knew \"next to nothing about nuclear energy\" to quote a
\nmember opposed to the plan -- a mere 37 days to reach a decision
\nand pass the bill for presentation to President Soeharto, who is
\nthen expected to sign it into law.<\/p>\n
Under the circumstances, critics may be forgiven for getting
\nthe impression that the speed with which the parliamentary
\nprocedures were completed was meant to place them before a fait
\naccompli. One would have thought that on so grave an issue -- one
\nthat might adversely affect the lives of hundreds, if not
\nthousands, of people and their offspring, as was the case in
\nChernobyl -- the House of Representatives could easily have
\nconsulted a few independent experts in order to reach a decision
\nthat accounts for the present and future generations of
\nIndonesians. Better still, a public debate could have been held
\non the issue.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, the proponents of the plan have a point in saying
\nthat nuclear power will benefit Indonesia's push towards greater
\nindustrialization in the foreseeable future. In the coming
\ndecades, Indonesia is projected to require 27,000 additional
\nmegawatts of power to provide industries and homes in Java and
\nBali with electricity. The planned Muria nuclear power plant will
\nprovide 1,800 megawatts. According to the director-general of
\natomic energy, seven to 12 nuclear reactors will be needed to
\nprovide the required 27,000 megawatts.<\/p>\n
But objections to nuclear power cannot simply be dismissed.
\nEven in the United States, which is the world's leading nuclear
\npower, a satisfactory answer to the question of nuclear waste
\ndisposal still has not been found and considerations of health,
\nexpenditure and the traumatic experiences of past catastrophes
\nhave deterred the country in its push towards the utilization of
\nnuclear power as a source of energy.<\/p>\n
The debate over the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear
\nenergy is set to continue. In the meantime, it is important for
\nus to learn from the experiences of others. Among the calamities
\nmankind has known, nuclear catastrophes are surely the most
\ntraumatic. That being the case, it is imperative the public be
\nfully informed -- either through exposure to impartial
\ninformation, public debate or both -- and that it be involved in
\nthe decision making process. Regretfully, this has apparently not
\nbeen fully met in the present case.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/going-nuclear-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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