Govt undecided on utilizing nuclear power
Govt undecided on utilizing nuclear power
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita said that the government is still undecided about developing a nuclear power plant and that it is waiting for the results of a feasibility study.
"We'll base our decision on the results of the study," the minister, who is also chairman of the Development Planning Board (Bappenas), announced in Yogyakarta after addressing a seminar over the weekend.
The seminar, on reviewing technology, culture and education in national development, was organized by the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its school of technology.
Ginandjar said that the government will carefully consider the results of the study conducted by the National Atomic Agency (Batan) before making a decision on whether to develop a nuclear power plant.
"Bappenas will not make a decision only on the basis of information presented by Batan," he noted, adding that his institution will view the issue over a much broader spectrum.
He said that his office will also consider whether such a plan will benefit Indonesia both in the short and long-term.
"So, even if the study's results are positive, that doesn't necessarily mean that we will certainly develop a nuclear plant," he said.
He cited funding as another problem that could block the development of a nuclear plant.
"If the study indicates that a nuclear power plant is feasible but very costly, how can we manage to develop it?" he was quoted by Antara as asking.
According to Ginandjar, if there is a better alternative, the government will certainly cancel its nuclear project.
Best decision
Asked by reporters to comment on a statement made by former minister of mines and energy Subroto, Ginandjar said that the government needs more input to enable it to make the best decision.
"We need input. But any input should be provided in detail and be comprehensive. This is a very important issue and we, therefore, cannot just grope our way around," he noted.
He said that if the government does approve the nuclear project it would be impossible to back off once it was started. "That's why we need to consider it very carefully," he said.
Director General of Batan Djali Ahimsa stated recently that the final feasibility study for the nuclear project will be completed by the end of May.
The government said that after the final feasibility study, the project would be opened to public debate before a decision to go nuclear was made.
Djali noted that if approved, the construction of a nuclear power plant will proceed within the next three years at Muria in Central Java.
Subroto announced recently that nuclear development is very costly. He stated that despite the rapidly-rising demand for energy, Indonesia does not need to resort to nuclear power as it has an abundance of other energy resources, such as coal, hydropower and geothermal steam.
According to a survey conducted by the Indonesian Forum for Environment recently, almost 80 percent of the population is against establishing nuclear power stations in the country.
The forum claimed that as many as 88 percent of respondents in the survey said the final decision on whether Indonesia should have a nuclear power plant must be left to the people. (13)