"We are not only addressing physical contamination, but also building a strong regulatory foundation to prevent similar incidents from recurring," Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said in a statement on Tuesday.
He explained that the task force has begun decontamination measures at ten key locations, with a target of completing the work in stages within one month.
He ensured that the process is being conducted while maintaining environmental safety.
On the other hand, law enforcement continues to investigate the source of radiation suspected to originate from Cs-137 waste that does not belong in the environment, Nurofiq remarked.
From a legal perspective, the minister supports law enforcement officials in conducting a thorough investigation of two possible sources of contamination: the importation of iron and steel scrap and the potential leakage of Cs-137 waste from the commercial sector.
According to him, the investigation was fully supported by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) to prevent a similar incident from recurring.
In addition to technical measures on the ground, the government is also utilizing this momentum to strengthen national policies and regulations.
The minister said that monitoring of potential radiation hazards from radionuclide sources will be strengthened through revisions to various related policies.
"The government has temporarily suspended recommendations for importing iron and steel scrap until all relevant parties can ensure optimal monitoring systems and security facilities," he emphasized.
As part of the follow-up, the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate Management is required to support the operation of emergency temporary storage at PT PMT, which is expected to begin operations in 2026.
Meanwhile, public health management is jointly carried out by the Banten Provincial Government, Serang District Government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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