National Nuclear Agency (BATAN) and Universitas Gadjah Mada have renewed their cooperation in the areas of education, research, and community service. It was marked by the signing of cooperation agreement (MoU) by Head of BATAN, Prof. Dr. Djarot S. Wisnubroto, and Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., in the Rectorate on Thursday(5/5).
Djarot S. Wisnubroto during the event said the intention to own Nuclear Power Plant had yet to materialise. Even so, BATAN continues to develop nuclear based technology for health, agriculture, environment, industry purposes, etc.
"The MoU serves as the basis for BATAN to work because we continue to develop the science, such as Neutron Capture Therapy, a therapy for cancer. The project engages many institutions from higher education, research agency, or private and state owned enterprises,” he said.
For BATAN, cooperation is important to do. During this time BATAN opens opportunities for their reactors to be utilised for research or practicum, or the iradiator or radiography belonging to the STTN (Nuclear Technology Academy) for research and radiography.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., said the wishes of Indonesia to build Nuclear Power Plant was because the country’s resources of energy are depleting. Industry growth will slump down if relying only on conventional and renewable energies. It also takes immense costs to make.
"Faculty of Engineering UGM once calculated the possibilities of having solar cell panels across the country will not even meet the industrial need of energy,” he said.
Rector said in the latest survey done on Indonesian people, as high as 70 percent of Indonesians agreed on the establishment of Nuclear Power Plant. So, it is now up to the Government to take action.
"The target is also to multiply other uses (of nuclear), such as for health, agriculture, etc,” he added.