The nuclear issue

The nuclear issue

Following an unfortunately familiar pattern in this country, it now seems that, quietly but surely, the government's proposed nuclear power plant project -- the first in Indonesia -- is set to proceed. Although a final decision on whether or not nuclear power should be used to meet Indonesia's growing need for energy is expected to come only later this year, the signals so far point towards a determination to go on with the project, despite the objections from the public, particularly from environmentalists and religious leaders.

The director general of the National Atomic Energy (BATAN), Djali Ahimsa, in a statement published not long ago, disclosed that the government has already commissioned two foreign consultancy companies, Sargent & Lundy of the United States, and Newjec of Japan, to review the results of earlier studies. According to the director general those earlier studies had found the proposed project both technologically and commercially feasible.

According to the plan, the first nuclear plant, scheduled to start operation in 2003, is to be built at Ujungwatu, at the foot of the dormant volcano Muria in northern Central Java province. It will have a capacity of 800 megawatts of electricity. According to Djali Ahimsa, Indonesia will need between seven and 12 nuclear reactors to help provide the 27,000 megawatts of electric energy needed by homes and industries in Java and Bali in the foreseeable future.

From the beginning it has looked to many observers as if the government is resolved to go nuclear to meet this country's constantly expanding need for electricity. Both President Soeharto and Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie have in the past year stated that nuclear energy would be considered by the government only as a "last option". President Soeharto, in a statement in May last year, however, warned Indonesians that the building of nuclear-powered power plants might become unavoidable in the future, because other energy resources might no longer be sufficient.

"As of now we have to get ready to start using nuclear power to meet our energy needs in the future," Soeharto said.

Responding to the public furore, Djali Ahimsa said last year that the government would conduct a public debate on the issue. But, ironically, at least three public debates planned by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) had to be canceled last year because the Ministry of Home Affairs refused to issue the recommendation for the meetings to be held. The obvious question is: Why did the authorities ban the debates? The impression of inconsistency is hard to avoid. Were the official statements merely meant to calm public emotions?

It would be well for everybody to remember that this is a sensitive issue which concerns broad segments of our society. We believe that greater transparency -- and a more democratic approach -- on the part of the government in handling the matter will greatly help calm down the public sentiments. Surely this would be in all of our best interest, particularly now that the general elections are approaching.