RI prepares for the next century through technology: Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said yesterday that by the 21st century Indonesia will have four science and technology research centers.

"Establishing the four research centers is a real need for our country as we prepare for the next century," Habibie said at a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission X, which oversees science, technology and environmental affairs. He did not say how much the project would cost.

The Serpong research center in West Java has been conducting cross-disciplinary studies in bio-technology, thermodynamics, nuclear science, and electronics as well as forestry, medical and veterinary studies.

Future centers are proposed to conduct and compile studies on aerospace and maritime. Proposed sites include an space center in Parepare, South Sulawesi and maritime studies centers on Seram and Ambon islands, Maluku.

For the aerospace center, Habibie has his heart set on a site near Bandung, presently a water catchment area about 1,500 meter above sea level, for practical reasons -- its proximity to the PT IPTN aircraft manufacturer.

"We are still negotiating permission from the Department of Forestry for 10 percent of their property, though we really don't have an alternative," Habibie told reporters during a break.

Last year, Habibie admitted that five of the 10 state-owned enterprises supervised by the Management Board for Strategic Industries (BPIS) suffered financial losses.

"Most state-owned enterprises, especially those involving high technology, go through the process of not being profitable economically. For now we should focus only on the knowledge and technology that we have a chance to learn," Habibie said.

Habibie also updated legislation on the development of the Batam, Rempang and Galang islands known by its acronym Barelang.

Scheduled to start operations in November, Habibie said that the facilities at Hang Nadim airport on Batam Island are comparable to Changi airport in Singapore.

The airport has a four-kilometer runway while Soekarno-Hatta only has 3.6 kilometers.

"Economically, Hang Nadim airport offer a better deal than Changi: the landing fee is at least 48 percent lower, while fuel is 7 to 15 percent cheaper," Habibie said.

Six bridges are being built to link the Barelang islands, scheduled for completion next year.

The bridges will create a land link between Batam, Tonton, Nipah, Setoko, Rempang, Galang and Galang Baru. (icn/14)