Batan lambasted over nuclear project
Batan lambasted over nuclear project
DEPOK, West Java (JP): A legislator charged yesterday that the
National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) has turned a deaf ear to
people's objections to a government plan to build a nuclear
reactor.
"They do not even listen to what the House of Representatives
says," said Laksmiari Priyonggo, a House member for the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Laksmiari made the remarks in a debate about the government's
nuclear plan at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics
in Depok.
She pointed out that the nuclear project cannot go ahead
without the support of the people, adding that the project is
against every single tenet of Pancasila.
She also charged that Batan has never delivered a "reasoned
argument" for the plan.
The participants of the nuclear debate comprised experts from
various backgrounds, including environmentalist Emmy Hafild,
political analyst Ekky Syachrudin and a bevy of government
officials.
No Batan officials showed up, for reasons unknown.
Batan is planning to build a 1800 megawatt nuclear power plant
on the Muria peninsula in Central Java. It is expected to begin
operations in 2003.
"Building the nuclear plant without knowing what to do with
its waste is going against the law of nature... and that means we
are trampling on Pancasila's first principle: Belief in Almighty
God," Laksmiari said.
Yoga Pratomo from the Ministry of Mining and Energy came out
in defense of the project. He said it would be Indonesia's last
source of energy if other resources prove inadequate for the
country's needs.
"We will turn to nuclear power as the last choice. The other
resources are just not good enough, or too polluting, or too
expensive. We must take a long view. We cannot extract all of our
oil. And a nuclear power plant is cost-effective," said Yoga, who
is in charge of the Ministry's Environmental Impact Studies for
Electricity.
Yoga's argument was attacked by I Nengah Sudja, a former
assistant to the director of the state-owned electricity company.
More expensive
He presented data to prove that the nuclear project would be
US$2 billion more expensive than the total cost of a coal power
plant for the same amount of electricity generated.
"These figures are taken from NEWJEC's nuclear power plant
feasibility studies and the Tanjung Jati coal power plant project
proposal. It shows that economically the nuclear power plant is
not competitive," he said.
NEWJEC of Japan was Batan's consultant and conducted the
feasibility studies.
Suja also criticized Batan's refusal to solicit the public's
opinions. "Before planning to build the nuclear plant, we must
have the people's approval first. Batan has not done that. It
hasn't even made a budget yet."
Indonesian Environmental Forum executive director Emmy Hafild
joined in the chorus criticizing the nuclear plan.
"The risk is just too enormous. It exceeds any possible
benefit. Now, even developed countries are not into nuclear power
any more. And that has made the nuclear industry look to
developing countries, which rarely involve the public in the
decision-making process," she said.
She added that her organization is not allowed to give
information about the dangers of the envisaged nuclear plant to
Muria residents. "They get information from Batan alone."
But surprisingly, TV commentator Ekky Syachrudin, well-known
for his criticism of government policies, took a neutral stand.
"Everything in this world carries a risk. We cannot avoid
that. So don't attack the nuclear policy because it has risks.
The government has declared that nuclear power is the last
choice. I think we should be grateful to the government for
that." (06)