Nuclear plant to start operation by 2004<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government reaffirmed its determination
\nyesterday to go ahead with its plan to build nuclear power plants
\ndespite the unabated storms of protests.<\/p>\n
The director general for the National Atomic Energy (BATAN)
\nDjali Ahimsa told members of the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nthat a feasibility study had recommended Mount Muria in Central
\nJava as the suitable site.<\/p>\n
The development of the plants would begin in 2000 and the
\nfirst unit is expected to go into operation four years later, he
\ntold members of DPR commission VIII overseeing research and
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
The government's plan to build a nuclear reactor has met with
\nobjections from the public. Environmentalists and religious
\nleaders have debated over Indonesia's actual need for and ability
\nto manage a nuclear plant.<\/p>\n
Djali explained that preliminary feasibility studies showed
\nthat nuclear plants with capacities of 600 and 900 megawatts
\nbuilt in Ujungwatu village near the Muria mountain would be
\nsuitable to supply Java and Bali with adequate electricity.<\/p>\n
\"A nuclear plant is a favorable solution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The electricity generated by the nuclear plants would also
\nhave a \"competitive cost\" compared to that produced by a coal
\npower generator with the same capacity, he added.<\/p>\n
Commission members criticized the government for failing to
\nprovide the public with sound information on the plan, leaving
\nthe people gripped by fear of the danger of nuclear power.<\/p>\n
\"If BATAN can really guarantee the safety of a nuclear
\nreactor, it should try to tell the public more about details of
\nthe plan,\" said Jusman Thahar, a legislator from the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) faction.<\/p>\n
House member Laksmiari Priyonggo from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI), said that unless BATAN was more open
\nabout its plan and more serious about its promotion, the public
\nand non-governmental organizations would continue attacking the
\nplan.<\/p>\n
Laksmiari suggested that BATAN take the initiative in
\nconducting open discussions with the public and NGOs, especially
\nthose strongly opposing the plan.<\/p>\n
\"Has BATAN considered researching the public's acceptance (of
\nthe nuclear plans) and the likely psychological and social
\neconomic impact of the plant?\" she asked.<\/p>\n
Laksmiari, referring to assurances given by State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie that nuclear would be the
\nlast option to be taken in the development of power generation,
\nasked whether BATAN's plan implies that Indonesia will have no
\nalternative by the year 2000. Djali sidestepped the question.<\/p>\n
Nieke Iswardani Kunarya from the ruling Golkar group pointed
\nout that BATAN should provide more information to the villagers
\nwho live near the plant, since they would be the ones most
\neffected.<\/p>\n
BATAN's seminars so far, she said, have been \"extremely
\ntechnical\" and have been comprehensible to only \"a very specific
\ngroup in society\".<\/p>\n
Djali said he has explained the benefits of nuclear energy to
\nlegislators at Central Java's provincial and regency levels as
\npart of his promotion project.<\/p>\n
Soedarjanto, a legislator from the PDI faction, said there was
\na need for special laws and facilities to protect the people
\nliving in the area in case of a nuclear accident.<\/p>\n
\"They have a right to such protection no matter how small the
\nlikelihood of an accident or how sophisticated the technology
\nis,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nuclear-plant-to-start-operation-by-2004-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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