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Volcanoes, earthquakes, corruption, but Indonesia still wants nuclear power

concerns over Indonesia’s geological vulnerability – such as its ill-fated position atop the “ring of fire” – in addition to Indonesia’s history of inefficiently coordinated responses to disaster…..
Then there’s the pervasive culture of corruption in Indonesia.

Fukushima crisis fails to dampen Indonesia’s nuclear ambitions   guardian.co.uk, 13 April 11, Gillian Terzis “……The government is talking up the country’s nuclear future…….the reverberations of the crises at Fukushima have scarcely cast a ripple in Indonesia‘s political quarters. Two weeks after Japan’s nuclear crisis, the Indonesian government stated that it will continue to pursue an ambitious nuclear power programme of its own that will triple the country’s electricity output by 2025……

Last week, Sri Setiawati , a deputy to the minister for technology and research, gave her assurances that out of the 10 Asean nations, Indonesia “is the most ready to build a nuclear power plant”. Ferhat Aziz, a spokesman from the country’s national nuclear agency, BATAN , says that Indonesia has the requisite expertise to go nuclear, with “many experts who have been prepared [for a nuclear plant] for decades” and numerous tests conducted at three research reactors in Bandung, Central Java and Banten.

But a significant proportion of the Indonesia public, it seems, isn’t as convinced. Plans to build a nuclear power plant in Muria in Central Java – nestled next to an inactive volcano – were eventually sidelined after vociferous protests by the local community. There has also been strident resistance from NGOs and environmentalist groups such as Greenpeace, who have consistently voiced their concerns over Indonesia’s geological vulnerability – such as its ill-fated position atop the “ring of fire” – in addition to Indonesia’s history of inefficiently coordinated responses to disaster…..
Then there’s the pervasive culture of corruption in Indonesia. Nothing less than utmost stringency is required where nuclear power is concerned, but opponents fear a penchant for cutting corners could eclipse safety concerns. These fears are felt among some members of the country’s National Energy Council (NEC), the advisory body that maps out power infrastructure in Indonesia, which has led to some members calling for the exploration of geothermal sources, hydroelectricity and biofuels before resorting to nuclear power.
Fukushima crisis fails to dampen Indonesia’s nuclear ambitions | Gillian Terzis | Environment | guardian.co.uk

April 13, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Indonesia, safety