Nuclear bill blocked by deadlock
JAKARTA (JP): Deliberation on the controversial government- sponsored bill on nuclear power plants has come to a stand-still because legislators have failed to agree on "substantial matters."
A legislator contacted by The Jakarta Post refused to explain what section of the bill caused the deadlock last Thursday. But sources say the impasse was partly caused by legislators refusing to comply with the Dec. 12 deadline imposed by the government for finalizing deliberations.
In previous hearings, issues that caused disagreement included the establishment of a body to monitor the operation of the planned nuclear power plant, and a demand from the House that their approval be sought for plant construction.
"The process has been tough. We have been facing a deadlock since the second day of final deliberations," said Muhammad Buang of the United Development Party (PPP).
The final phase of deliberations on the bill began on Nov. 13, five days earlier than originally scheduled. This phase has been closed to the public whereas earlier stages have been open. The government submitted the bill on nuclear power to the House of Representatives on Jan. 28 and expected to see it passed by Dec. 12.
The bill has attracted much criticism, with many people accusing the government of turning a deaf ear to concerns about the planned construction of a nuclear power plant. Some say the bill was prepared only to pave the way for building the plant.
Anung Karyadi of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), one of the staunchest critics of the planned plant, said the bill contains nothing but procedures for legitimizing the plant.
Despite widespread opposition, the National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) has said it will go ahead with the plan to build a 1,800 megawatt nuclear power plant on the Muria peninsula in Central Java. Operations are expected to begin in 2003.
On Tuesday, the government installed Iyos S. Subki as the new director of atomic energy replacing long-serving Djali Ahimsa.
Djali had earlier claimed Indonesia would need seven to 12 nuclear plants to meet the expected demand of 27,000 megawatts of electricity from homes and industries in Java and Bali in the foreseeable future.
Iyos had led the team on site and feasibility studies, which found that the planned plant would meet commercial and environmental requirements.
Yesterday, Buang rejected opinions that the earlier, open deliberation was concluded prematurely and failed to solve substantial questions.
"'Substantial matters' in the deliberation of a bill are usually solved at closed hearings, anyway," Buang said. He said no new deadline had been set by which the House would have to break the impasse and reach an agreement.
Critics of the bill, including those from non-governmental organizations and the House of Representatives, have said that only those in favor of the bill were given ample opportunity to speak in the previous hearings.
Refusing to go into detail, Buang said the disagreement in the House was exacerbated by the absence of the State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who represented the government.
Habibie is said to be accompanying his wife for medical treatment in Germany.
The final stage of deliberations had been arranged with Habibie's presence in mind, Buang said, adding that Habibie's representative in the ongoing debate does not dare make decisions on the contentious issues. (06)