"Although we are the most prepared nation (among ASEAN member states) in terms of infrastructures and human resources, the government cannot dare take the any risk of building a nuclear power plant in the near future," deputy for scientific and technological networks to research and technology minister Syamsa Ardisasmita said at a get-together to introduce nuclear technology here on Wednesday.
He said Vietnam was planning to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts in 2014 and expecting to operate it starting 2020, while Malaysia was ready to operate a nuclear power plant as of 2021.
Indonesia was still undecided about when it began to build a nuclear power plant, he said.
After all, he added the government would continue to familiarize the public with a plan to build a nuclear power plant. As a matter of fact, Indonesia started conducting a research on construction of a nuclear reactor in 1964 and had by far been regarded as the most prepared nation among ASEAN member countries in terms of nuclear reactor, regulation and human resources.
"Indonesia has prepared everything but is still facing an obstacle to implement (a plan to build a nuclear power plant)," he said.
All countries including Indonesia would in the future largely depend on nuclear energy due to the depleting fossil-based energy supplies.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
