"Study of the location has been intensive now in the second year."Pangkalpinang (ANTARA News) - The National Nuclear Energy Board (BATAN) said it has continued to hold surveys of possible location for a nuclear plant on the island of Bangka.
After long delay, the country hopes to start building its first nuclear power plant in 2016.
"Study of the location has been intensive now in the second year," agency spokesman Totti Tjipto Sumirat said here on Sunday.
In the second year the agency will focus on reflection seismic survey to determine the potential danger in the ground, Totti said.
The agency will continue geo-technical drilling in southern Bangka, and surveys will also be focused on human activities in the area, he said.
The provincial administration of Bangka Belitung has support plan to build the nuclear plant in that region.
Earlier minister for state enterprises Dahlan Iskan said he had approved plan to build a nuclear power plant to meet rising energy demand.
Nuclear issue has always triggered controversy in the country , but the plan to build a 200 kilowatt nuclear power plant could proceed, Dahlan said .
The government has also approved plan in the next phase to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2 megawatts .
Dahlan dismissed fear of radiation danger saying the latest radiation leak at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima had caused no loss of life .
Earlier, the National Energy Council said nuclear power is not included in the priority in the country's energy development program until 2050.
Chairman of the national Energy Council Darwin Zahedy Saleh said the government had decided to develop geothermal and gas energy as the main energy sources to be developed until 2050 .
Yopie Hidayat, the vice presidential spokesman, said the government would continue to study possible development of nuclear power , but it would not be in the priority.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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