Imagine A Nuclear Reactor In Indonesia

I am interested to discuss more about the existence of nuclear reactor in Indonesia after recent UN economic sanction to Iran for its uranium enrichment programmes and also the clean energy / alternative energy campaigns in US,Brazil,Singapore and many other countries. I would not discuss more about Iran’s uranium enrichment programmes but more on Indonesia plan to build nuclear reactor for peaceful purpose.

Indonesia recently resurfaced the old plan to build a nuclear reactor for helping the acute electricity shortages in Indonesia ( so called peaceful purpose ). The most important agency for this project surely BATAN ( Badan Tenaga Atom Nasional = National Atomic Energy Council ) and other agencies and companies especially PLN ( Perusahaan Listrik Negara = State Electricity Company ). As far as I know Indonesia plan to build the first nuclear reactor nearby Muria,Central Java. As Indonesia never have any nuclear reactor before and does not have enough technology to do it then certain countries have been willing to help. To name a few such as Japan,South Korea,Rusia and etc.

There are several questions interesting and important to ask about this as follow :

1.Do Indonesia really need a nuclear reactor ?

I can say it as a yes and a no at the same time

Why I say yes :

1. Nuclear reactors have been built and used peacefully in many countries such as France,South Korea,Japan,USA. So Indonesia have the right to build and use it also.
2. Decreasing the overdependence on natural resource for producing electricity such as oil,gas,coal and etc.

Indonesia now is a net importer of oil though still producing and exporting enough natural gas. But in years to follow if Indonesia can not increase the oil production then certainly Indonesia condition can be worse. Why worse ?

It become worse because oil actually getting scarce everywhere in the world ( let see we still can get oil in 20-50 years more ) and it is actually a political commodity.

Why a political commodity ?

· It has been used before by Arab countries to impose oil and gas embargo in 1970 to Western countries.

· The oil reserves is not distributed all over the world but only on handful countries. To name a few are Saudi Arabia,Russia,Kuwait and etc.

So the politics of those countries actually influence the availability and the price of oil itself.

3. Solving the chronic electricity shortage in Indonesia

Indonesia has lack of electricity infrastructure despites decades of infrastructure development. And what a pity is that some regions in Indonesia still face rolling electricity black out due to the shortages. I know about this as Palembang,my hometown still faces this kind of problem till now. Certainly it is a real sad story not to have electricity especially at night when you want to read book,watch movies and etc.

4. The need to master the nuclear technology for future purpose

As a big country in the region Indonesia has a big need to master this technology although only for peaceful purpose. Imagine that a country as small as Israel which has capability of this. It is well regarded and envied by surrounding nations in Middle East.If Indonesia can have the mastery of this it can also help other countries in the region to build and operate it. It further can give additional revenues and geopolitical strength to Indonesia as big country in this region.

Why I say no at the same time :

1. Nuclear reactor has certain degree of safety hazards.

If a nuclear reactor not being managed and operated properly with the stringent discipline and control it can be really dangerous and hazardous.

Why is that ?

I think we should not forget on what happened in Chernobyl reactor,ex Sovyet Union before.

Chernobyl leaks had proved that lack of good management and control can cause such problem.Many innocent victims who happened to live nearby the reactors have to suffer till now.

I do not know exactly where in Muria the nuclear reactor will be built but as far as everybody know Java has very dense population even in villages and so called remote areas. You still can find many people ( millions even ) in small cities or regencies in Java. If something like Chernobyl happen then it can lead to catasthropic problems in Java,Indonesia.

2. There are still many alternatives for producing electricity

Several other sources which can be tapped such as wind,geothermal,biofuel and etc. Indonesia has big potential on most of this but still not being tapped properly.

In spite of nuclear reactor then Indonesia can build wind,geothermal or biofuel electricity plant first. It certainly has lesser degree of safety hazards and supposed to be cheaper than a nuclear reactor

2. What the Government of Indonesia need to do about this then ?

I could not give definite answers for this but certainly can suggest several things :

a. The research and cooperation on nuclear reactor still need to be continued.

Let see if the nuclear reactor can not be buit in 5 years time then we still might build it in 10-15 years time. So the research and cooperation will not be wasted.

b.Indonesian can prioritise first on other alternatives for solving electricity shortage such as building geothermal,gas electricity plants and etc. It actually diversify the energy sources,help to reduce electricity shortages and cheaper.

c.Proper surveys,polling and PR work need to be done for this plan

What I meant by this is as Indonesia is a democratic country then it should try to know and consult the people about what they think about the building of nuclear reactor.

PR work also need to be done. I do not mean it as a propaganda but mostly open and honest discussion and talks regarding this issue in TV,radio,direct meeting and etc.

It certainly can give better and clearer view on this. Hopefull then if most of the people can be convinced than this nuclear reactor can move forwards smoothly.

d.Proper surveying for future nuclear reactor location

What I meant by this is mitigating and lowering the chance of hazards in case something wrong happen in the nuclear reactor.

We already know what a wrong drilling practice can bring to the people like what happened in Lapindo Brantas,East Java. Certainly the effect of nuclear reactor can be more dangerous,fast and undetected.

So put the best interest on the people first before deciding further on the location.It perhaps building the nuclear reactor really far away from population so that in 30 years time it is still far away despite the development of cities and regions nearby.

Why at least 30 years ?

The development of nuclear reactor is an expensive investment and we can not expect that we build and then decommission it in short time. We still need to make sure we get the best of it ( achieving Return on Investment / ROI and might be some profit from it ).

That is certain thoughts which I have about this topic. Let see what happen in the future.Hopefully everything can run and go smoothly as everybody wishes.