Kalimantan suitable for nuclear power plant: Minister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/27/2012 9:40 PM


Kalimantan is suitable for the development of nuclear energy as it is relatively free from the threat of earthquakes in comparison to Java, Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said Friday.

He said there were two provinces in Kalimantan, East and Central Kalimantan, which were ready to develop nuclear energy although, at present, the ministry was still focusing on developing nuclear energy in Sumatra.

Hatta was speaking at a discussion in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday, which was attended by South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Ariffin and researchers from all four provinces in Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) chief, Hadi Hustowo, admitted that it was still difficult to eliminate the negative stigma toward the development of nuclear energy.

“If people are willing and able to accept the development, we have to begin the process before our natural resources run out,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said that nuclear energy could be used for various sectors, not only for electricity but also for hospitals and agriculture.

Hatta added that society still believed that nuclear energy could only be used for bombs. “Now is the right time to develop nuclear energy,” Hatta said. (drs)