"A nuclear power plant will also support the government`s policy."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has enough experts who are capable of managing a nuclear power plant (PLTN), according to Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta.
"We have many experts and therefore can definitely manage a nuclear power plant," he said here on Monday.
Gusti dismissed concerns that the presence of a nuclear power plant in the country would compromise the safety and security of the Indonesian people.
He noted that the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters in Ukraine and Japan, respectively, were because of "the use of old technology".
"The nuclear reactor that exploded in Fukushima was based on old technology. There was no such problem with the other reactors there, which were based on the new technology," the minister explained.
Therefore, he said, the Ministry of Research and Technology would ask the experts to try and understand why the public was against the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Indonesia.
"Some people have rejected the presence of a nuclear power plant because they are afraid, while there are others who perhaps do not want Indonesia to make progress," Gusti went on.
He said Bangka-Belitung was the most appropriate place for setting up a nuclear power plant because of its proximity to Sumatra island.
"A nuclear power plant will also support the government`s policy of balancing the use of fossil and non-fossil energy sources," Gusti said.
"If we continue using coal the way we have in the past, it will run out in three years," he added.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Nuclear Energy Supervisory Board Chief As Natio Lasman called on the public to "not reject the idea of a nuclear power plant on the grounds of safety".
"There are three factors that need to be considered in the nuclear realm, namely security, safety, and peace," he noted.
"Nuclear safety is the same around the world. Besides, there are eight Indonesians who work as inspectors for the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Natio pointed out.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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