Anti-nuclear groups demand action against Batan boss
Anti-nuclear groups demand action against Batan boss
JAKARTA (JP): Two anti-nuclear groups urged the government yesterday to take firm action against the director of the National Atomic Agency (Batan) for speaking prematurely about the bidding for Indonesia's first nuclear power plant project.
M. Anung, speaking for the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) and the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society (MANI), said Batan director, Djali Ahimsa, has breached his authority by opening pre-qualification bids for nuclear power plants without public knowledge.
"This is also against the 1982 Environment Law, and the 1982 Law on spatial planning," Anung told The Jakarta Post.
"The announcement of bidding should be made only after the completion of feasibility studies and an approved environmental impact analysis," Anung said.
Walhi sits on the National Commission on Environmental Impact Analysis which oversees the compilation of such reports.
"We are shocked because the bid itself was not clear," he said.
He added that the law on spatial planning requires public involvement in mandatory consultation regarding projects which are considered to have a large impact on the public.
Djali said last week that the government will soon open pre- qualification bidding for the nuclear power plant in Mount Muria, Central Java. He said the final phase of the feasibility studies by Newjec of Japan would be completed in May.
Anung said the planned announcement of the bidding contradicts President Soeharto's statement last year that nuclear energy would be a last resort in providing power to meet ever increasing demands.
Soeharto also said that in the case that nuclear power plants became a must, the people should be thoroughly prepared to face the possible risks posed by nuclear reactors.
Along with Walhi and MANI, three other environmental groups earlier criticized Canada's offer to build nuclear power plants here. These were the Bogor-based Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Forum, Pelangi Indonesia and Gugus Analisis Jakarta.
"The offer was not ethical," said Anung.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien made the offer to Soeharto during his visit to Jakarta on Wednesday.
The groups stated the government should not even consider Canada's offer.
"Canada has found nuclear plants are not economical because of the public's high demand for safety standards," the statement said. "Now they are dumping the nuclear plants on us."
The groups suggested that Canada should instead offer Indonesia its experience in seeking non-nuclear alternatives.
They also repeated demands for public access to all information pertinent to the nation's nuclear power plant plans. (anr)