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)