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ivil society groups insist that there were no urgent reasons to develop nuclear power plants in Indonesia, citing the country’s large sources of alternative energy from coal, geothermal heat, water and wind.

They said the notorious energy shortage was due to the government’s poor management in dealing with energy resources since most of its coal and gas was exported.

“It is too risky for the country to develop nuclear power plants because Indonesia doesn’t have the technology, like how to treat hazardous waste,” Dian Abraham, director of the Anti-Nuclear Society (Manusia), said Thursday.

He warned that untreated waste could easily be converted into powerful bomb-making material.

Greenpeace Indonesia, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Civil Society Forum (CSF) on climate change and Balong Society (PMB) are among the groups calling on the government to delay plans to develop nuclear power plants.

Dian also questioned the government’s motives in running huge campaigns highlighting the need of nuclear power plants in Indonesia.

“Why is the government running these campaigns, and not private companies who are interested in developing such projects,” he said. “It makes no sense.”

The National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapiten) and the Research and Technology Ministry are among the agencies promoting nuclear power plants.

Dian said the agencies were regulatory institutions, not developers.

Batan chairman Hudi Hastowo said Wednesday that Indonesia could develop nuclear power plants following approval by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Nuclear expert Iwan Kurniawan predicted that the country needed at least US$4 million to develop a nuclear power plant with a 1,000-megawatt capacity.

“There are almost no positive benefits from nuclear power plants considering the huge investment and risks,” he said.

He said the government’s claim of investing $2,700 per kilowatt was unrealistic as the lowest price was $3,600 per kilowatt.

Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Banten and Gorontalo provinces have expressed their intention to host a nuclear power plant.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia energy and climate campaigner Arif Fiyanto said the government should focus on alternative energy to meet energy demands.