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.