High risk project
High risk project
The chief of the National Atomic Agency, Djali Ahimsa, has on
several occasions said that the government has decided to begin
constructing a nuclear power plant in Central Java, close to
Mount Muria next year. On the other hand, the press reported that
President Soeharto some time ago remarked in a cautious tone that
nuclear power should be considered when all other energy sources
that have not yet been fully exploited -- such as coal, water,
wind and sun -- are no longer sufficiently available.
President Soeharto and Minister of Research and Technology
B.J. Habibie have repeatedly stated that nuclear energy would be
"the last option" in meeting our energy needs. The proposed
nuclear power plant has lately become a very sensitive and
controversial issue among Indonesians. The high technology needed
for a nuclear plant demands not only sophisticated skills,
expertise and accuracy, but it involves huge costs in
construction and maintenance. The question is: How far can we
rely on the discipline and accuracy of our manpower to guarantee
the safe functioning of the expensive plant so as to avoid
undesired disasters?
If the project is considered to be in the general interest of
the public, especially for following generations, it is very
obvious that for the sake of safety, secretiveness should be set
aside and public participation should be highly encouraged. As
far as I can remember, there has been no public debate on this
issue.
Objections to the construction of the nuclear plant are
apparently based on the following considerations: First, the high
risk and terrible consequences that could result from a nuclear
accident. Second, Indonesia still has ample sources of coal, oil,
wind, sun and water to produce electricity. Third, in several
places throughout Indonesia we have already built conventional
power plants to generate electricity. What will become of them?
Java is the most densely populated island, so we have good
reason to reconsider or even cancel the choice of Muria as the
site for the plant. Indonesia does not need to follow the Western
world in the application of high technology if the our conditions
are not supportive to the matter.
But it seems that Indonesian technologists insist on the
construction of a nuclear plant at any cost, with or without the
people's consent. It is here the House of Representatives should
play its role, to approve or disapprove the project, depending on
the results of its feasibility study. The government, if
necessary, need feel no shame in canceling this prestigious
project for the sake of mankind.
A. HARYONO
Jakarta