Batan says nuclear plant safe

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) assures the safety of its nuclear development projects and waste management, saying it implements nuclear quality assurance measures and the International Atomic Energy Agency's infrastructure standards.

"We have been developing a research center for nuclear energy in Serpong since 1984. The research center building meets international safety standards," Batan chairman, Hudi Hastowo, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"We have also implemented nuclear quality assurance measures to increase safety."

Hudi spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony to install Erwansyah Lubis and Zainus Salimin as research professors at the agency.

The controversial plan to build a nuclear power plant in Muria, Central Java, in 2015 has raised protests from the surrounding community, environmental organizations and activists.

There are concerns over the possibility of accidents causing damage to the environment or harm to human beings.

The nuclear plant opponents are also quick to point out that Indonesia still possesses undeveloped alternative sources of energy.

Hudi said people's attitudes had been influenced by the horrible effects of nuclear incidents like the Chernobyl reactor leakage or the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombs.

"People tend to be suspicious and prejudice about nuclear development because of previous incidents," he said.

"Acknowledging the risks and uncertainty involved in the development of nuclear power and educating the public will help people become more accepting.

"Actually, nuclear energy can also give positive benefits with minimum risks."

He added it was important to educate people about nuclear waste management and the risks of nuclear development.

Hudi said nuclear waste should be disposed of in amounts the environment could accommodate.

"It will take a long time with greater costs to handle this nuclear waste if it exceeds tolerable limits, as the environment will loose its ability to adapt." he said.

Meanwhile, Erwansyah said precise planning, good infrastructure and qualified human resources were needed to increase capacity and confidence building in studies on radioactive waste disposal.

Zainus, an expert in radioactive waste treatment, said the public should also be educated about nuclear power plant waste management systems so they would understand and not worry about radioactive threats. (rff)