Nuclear supervisory agency to be set up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will set up an independent
\nnuclear energy supervisory agency, according to State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology Rahardi Ramelan.<\/p>\n
\"God willing... the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency will be
\nset up next week,\" Rahardi told journalists after meeting with
\nSoeharto at the latter's private residence on Jl. Cendana,
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rahardi said the new agency, to be officially set up by a
\npresidential decree, will supervise programs involving nuclear
\nenergy. He said the agency would have 80 staff members, half from
\nthe National Atomic Agency (Batan) and the rest from staff of his
\nministry who had experience with nuclear programs.<\/p>\n
\"It will be professional and independent,\" Rahardi said.<\/p>\n
\"Do not only think that it has only to do with a nuclear power
\nplant because the use of (nuclear) isotopes is already quite
\nwidespread,\" he added, saying isotopes were also in current use
\nin the health program and by industries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had earlier planned to build the country's first
\nnuclear power plant, an 800 Megawatt plant on the slopes of an
\nactive volcano at the Muria Peninsula in Central Java.<\/p>\n
The government has since temporarily shelved the plan until
\nother energy alternatives have been exhausted and additional
\nresources are available.<\/p>\n
The plant would have been the first in a series of 12 on the
\nnorthern coast of Java with a total capacity of 7,000 MW. The
\ncountry, with its 202 million of population, currently relies on
\nhydro, coal and fuel generated electricity.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, Rahardi expressed hope that there would not be
\na repeat of an incident in which a group from the National
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI) made critical statements about
\nPresident Soeharto's leadership.<\/p>\n
\"Let's hope it won't happen again,\" Rahardi said after meeting
\nwith President Soeharto at the latter's private residence on Jl.
\nCendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rahardi said LIPI researchers were members of the Indonesian
\nCivil Servants Corps (Korpri) and had to observe ethics on how to
\nvoice their aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"The results (of their studies or discussions) should be
\nconveyed through the proper channel, instead.\"<\/p>\n
A group of young researchers, including Syamsuddin Haris and
\nHermawan Sulistyo, issued in January a statement of concern about
\nthe government's poor handling of the economic crisis. They also
\ncalled on the nation to elect a new president for the sake of
\nmuch needed political and economic reforms. (swe\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nuclear-supervisory-agency-to-be-set-up-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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