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strong>Nov. 29, Online

State electricity firm PT PLN says it is ready to operate Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant after a minister recently announced his approval of the long-stalled plant construction plan.

PLN managing director Nur Pamudji said on Tuesday in Jakarta that the government had yet to appoint a party to run the plant, and that PLN may have to compete with others to win the project.

“We don’t know which company or agency will be appointed [to run the nuclear plant]. But we’re ready for the job if the government decides to appoint us,” Nur said as quoted by Antara.

Your comments:

As an Indonesian I oppose the establishment of nuclear reactors anywhere in our country.

Sony

I just hope SBY overrides the State-Owned Enterprises Minister and PLN’s plans to construct the nuclear monster. International opposition to the project should keep it from ever getting off the ground because Indonesia does not have any uranium.

Steph Ros

Nuclear power is absolutely necessary for Indonesia and the world. Clarification, however, is required: 200 kilowatt (KW) is not a power reactor (the first civilian power reactor in Pennsylvania, US, in 1954, was 400 KW), but is a training, research, or isotope reactor. The standard power reactor today is 1000 megawatt (MW) 50 times larger, 1,400 MW and soon 2,000 MW reactors, are coming into wide use.

All the “alternatives” just don’t work without massive subsidies. If the world does not go forward into more advanced, power-dense technologies, there’s a very bleak future for mankind.

Ron

Exactly, both your country and your neighboring countries will be affected. It is surely dangerous as you pointed out and that is why everyone should be concerned.

Simon

The maintenance companies can’t manage simple bridge projects that have all fallen down.

I would not want any third party managing the plant because it is simply dangerous — especially in Indonesia.

Sri
Surakarta, C.Java

Everyone concerned from around the planet should get involved and stop this. All uranium mining companies in Canada, Australia, etc, should boycott the sale of uranium to Indonesia for our own safety.

Graham
Australia

Look at Japan. Indonesia is an earthquake hotspot and this proposed plant is a potential disaster. They can’t even build bridges properly here. Indonesia is not ready for this.

This must not go ahead.

Lauren

Australia and all other uranium miners around the world don’t sell to Indonesia. It’s that simple.

This is my solution. Any other thoughts on this?

Sam
Australia

It is up to all Indonesians, if they want to save their country.

Get rallies organized now before it is too late. All universities around the nation should take this as extremely seriously. No second chances with this one, buddy.

Ted
Italy

A disaster in the waiting ... how to build/run a nuclear plant if not even a bridge can be built safely!

After the Japan disaster, such plans are pure stupidity!

Deddy

This must be a joke, right? Even a 2-MW nuclear plant is too small for a commercial reactor. Is this a research reactor?

Anto

Actually, we still have a lot of other alternatives to meet energy demands, such as geothermal, which is cleaner and safer. Our natural gas that is exported to other countries also could be allocated to meet the national demand.

Hari

Please hire a third party to operate the facility and for the power plant itself to be developed and constructed by outside company with a name.

They can anticipate geological factors and not cut corners on design, construction and operation.

Devi

Maybe the minister doesn’t know that even Japan has a problem in handling its nuclear waste, and that many European countries plan to shut down their power plants because they have no space for the waste — eternally toxic waste that can and does kill people.

Meity

I can’t believe how arrogant and condescending these Australians are toward Indonesians. At the onset, to operate a nuclear plant, Indonesia should hire a third party as suggested above.

Nonetheless, just as in any technology, the most critical point is the personnel who run the plant. If indeed the goverment is serious with the plan, they should thoroughly investigate all future plant personnel.

Anto