France is very dependent (77.4 percent) on nuclear energy to meet its national power supply needs. While nuclear technology remains, and will continue to remain controversial for many people, including in Indonesia, it is tempting to ask: When can the world produce ideally safe nuclear power?

I did feel scared, when the EDF's Penly nuclear power plant managing director Andre Van-Spaandonck told me, and other journalists from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam, to feel the atmosphere inside the nuclear power plant building.

How about the risk of nuclear radiation? The procedure for the trip was very tight, starting from the requirement to wear special equipment and the obligation to deposit our passports.

"This is totally safe," said our tour leader.

The Indonesian government plans to build four nuclear units to produce 4,000 MW of electricity at the Muria Peninsula, in Central Java. Work on the first site may be started as early as 2010. The total cost is said to be about Rp 70 trillion. The plan has sparked public protests. The peninsula is located near the Muria volcano.

"Our nuclear plant is safe when there is a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake," said the tour leader, a nuclear expert.

The Penly plant, located in Normandy, produces 1,300 MW. It is only one of 58 nuclear power plants across France. The plant is located in a rather remote area. Farms and housing are located not very far from the plant. The plant is also visited by thousands of visitors, mostly students, every year, as part of French government efforts to maintain public confidence in the controversial power source.

Today, 77.4 percent of France's electricity needs (489 TWh) are supplied by 58 nuclear plants. France even exports 12 percent of its nuclear-powered electricity to neighboring countries. Other nuclear sites are located in Paluel, Cateenom, Blayais, Fessenheim, Cruas and other areas.

The company however said that although nuclear power will play a major role in providing energy supply in the future, after fossil fuel power generation, and renewable energy including hydro, wind, solar and biomass, "the hurdles of political and public concerns (over nuclear energy) are difficult to meet. Ultimately, fossil fuels-- coal and natural gas, will need to take a major role."

Leaving the Penly site, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, nuclear power is perhaps one of the solutions that could help overcome Indonesia's acute power shortages.

But when I remember the Lapindo mud flow disaster in East Java, and sea, land and air accidents which were mostly caused by human errors. I do doubt that we can free the nuclear plant -- if it is really built in Indonesia -- from fatal human errors. --Kornelius Purba

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