RI to go on developing nuclear technology: Mega
RI to go on developing nuclear technology: Mega
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Wednesday Indonesia
would continue to develop nuclear technology as an alternative
source of energy, not for arms or defensive purposes.
"Nuclear technology should be seen as a scientific achievement
and incorporated into the country's development projects to
improve the people's welfare," the President said during the
closing ceremony of a national convention of nuclear safety at
the State Palace on Wednesday.
She said Indonesia should not shy away from mastering nuclear
technology merely because of its potential threat.
"We can utilize nuclear power for the interests of national
development and to improve the welfare of our people," she said.
Megawati said that as the supplies of gas and other natural
resources diminished, nuclear power should be seen as an
alternative energy source.
The President, however, did not completely ignore the fact
that many countries utilized nuclear power to strengthen their
armed forces. She criticized countries that developed nuclear
technology for arsenals that improved their bargaining position
within the political and economic spheres.
Indonesia has built nuclear laboratories and research centers
in Gunung Muria, Central Java, and Serpong, Banten, to develop
nuclear technology as alternative source of energy.
Megawati also called on the Nuclear Power Supervisory Body
(Bapeten) to remain true to its mission of ensuring all safety
guideline were followed in the development of nuclear technology
as an alternative energy source.
Indonesia established the Radioactive Commission in 1954 to
examine the impact of the numerous nuclear tests being carried
out at that time, and to ensure these tests were only being
carried out for the ultimate purpose of increasing the well-being
of the Indonesian people.
"The utilization of nuclear power must be in accordance with
all safety regulations and international conventions, and
therefore it should be closely supervised by the commission," the
President said.
According to data from the Nuclear Power Supervisory Body,
Indonesia has only used nuclear technology in the fields of
health, mining, agriculture and power.
To date, Bapeten has issued 2,900 permits to 23,000
institutions for the use of a total of 11,000 radioactive
substances.
Mohammad Ridwan, the chairman of Bapeten, said after the
ceremony that many of the permits issued by Bapeten had expired
but the institutions had failed to extend their licenses.
In the health sector, of the 916 sources of radiation in use,
47 percent are being operated without a license, while 42 percent
of the licensed operators have failed to extend their permits.