Gov't delays use of nuclear power<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government chose natural gas over nuclear
\nenergy yesterday when it indefinitely delayed plans to build a
\nnuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
The growing need for electricity in Java would be supplied by
\ngas from the huge reserves in the Natuna Islands, State Minister
\nof Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said.<\/p>\n
Habibie, who chairs the Natuna Development Agency, said the
\ngovernment planned to pipe the Natuna gas to Java.<\/p>\n
The Natuna gas project is expected to generate 4000 MW of
\nelectricity in Java by 2004 and this should grow to 8000 MW when
\nthe first phase of the project is completed.<\/p>\n
This will exceed the 7200 MW of electricity that the original
\nnuclear power plant, scheduled for 2003, would have provided, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Natuna gas field contains 222 trillion cubic feet of
\nnatural gas. A $40 billion project is underway to extract the gas
\nby a consortium consisting of the state-owned oil and gas company
\nPertamina and Mobil Oil Corp and Exxon Corp from the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
The government had been expected to announce its decision to
\ngo nuclear this year.<\/p>\n
Speculation grew in February after the House of
\nRepresentatives passed into law a bill on nuclear power which
\nwould legitimize the use of a nuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
Feasibility and site studies have been completed, with the
\nMuria peninsula in Central Java chosen to host Indonesia's first
\nnuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
The Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) --
\nwhich Habibie chairs -- started preparatory work for the nuclear
\nplant 20 years. Before the Natuna discovery there were fears that
\nIndonesia's oil and gas resources would be depleted by the turn
\nof the century.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the government had not shelved the nuclear power
\nplant because sooner or later Indonesia would have to rely on
\nthis type of energy.<\/p>\n
The government had regarded nuclear as the last alternative
\nsource of energy after other options had been tapped, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We have to thank God that we don't have to use nuclear in the
\nforeseeable future because of Natuna,\" Habibie said.<\/p>\n
The nuclear power project was also delayed because the
\ngovernment wanted to make sure that Indonesia had the necessary
\nskilled manpower to supervise and operate the facility, he said.<\/p>\n
The Nuclear Power Law stipulates that nuclear power could not
\nbe utilized until the establishment of the Nuclear Technology
\nSupervisory Board, he said.<\/p>\n
Preparing the experts to staff the board would be a lengthy
\nprocess. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-delays-use-of-nuclear-power-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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