YOGYAKARTA- In year 2100 Indonesia is expected to be ready to use Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). In that year, in terms of infrastructure, community preparedness, and all energy resources will have been utilized. This is confirmed by Minister of Natural Environment, Dr. Alexander Sonny Keraf, in the Seminar Pros and Cons of Nuclear as an Alternative Energy in Faculty of Philosophy of UGM, Friday (8/4). Also attended as a speaker at the event was Member of the National Energy Board (DEN), Dr. Ir. Tumiran, M. Eng., and Head of Center for Environmental Studies UGM, Prof. dr. Hari Kusnanto Josef, SU., Dr.PH.
Sonny Keraf added whether Indonesia is ready to utilize nuclear power plant or not can be seen from several aspects, such as momentum, technique, and factors of economy, social, environment and security.
"Seeing from the readiness, it is possible that in 2100 Indonesia will be ready to use nuclear power," said Sonny.
He added that in terms of momentum, especially after the explosion of the Fukushima nuclear reactor plant (NPP) in Japan some time ago, the impact of the explosion is bad on economic sector in Japan. On the other hand, some developed countries need to rethink to reorganize nuclear reactors.
"Indonesia needs to start to be careful and think back to set up power-generating facilities such as electricity, etc, better. Incident of Cilacap oil-mill for instance, at least has already happened five times," said Sonny.
On that occasion he also warned about safety culture and discipline of Indonesian people which is still low. Meanwhile, the supervision of international party, Sony added, cannot be fully trusted. The high level of social and political vulnerability such as the threat of terrorism needs to be taken into account, too.
Sonny who is also a lecturer at Faculty of Philosophy, University of Atmajaya Jakarta, emphasized that in addition to those factors, the factor that cannot be ignored are the ethics/ conduct and hard reaction of rejection of some communities in the development of nuclear power plants.
"Moreover, when we talk about raw material of uranium which is still imported and the high cost of nuclear power plant construction," said Sonny.
In the same place, Dr. Ir. Tumiran, M. Eng assessed that nuclear energy has several advantages such as to supply electrical energy. Its energy in addition to having a large capacity is also relatively environmentally friendly and has competitive operational cost.
Tumiran was sure with the optimization of nuclear power plants, those can supply electrical energy, particularly to many regions outside Java, which get minimal supply of electrical energy.
"Outside Java, electrical energy is still minimal. If there is any electric light, this is only a few, so that also influences the economic sector," said Tumiran.
Compared to other countries, energy capacity owned by Indonesia is still very little compared with Indonesia's population which reaches 235 million people. While the utilization of alternative energy, said Tumiran, such as geo-thermal, wind, and solar, is prospective. However, the amount of energy generated from these alternative energy sources is much smaller than nuclear energy.
"But I agree that the safety and discipline of community for nuclear energy use should be increased," said the Dean of Faculty of Engineering.
Meanwhile, Prof. dr. Hari Kusnanto Josef, SU., Dr.PH. also warned about the possibility of public health that could be affected with nuclear radiation.
"The case in several countries has proven the effects of nuclear radiation could affect public health," Hari explained.