Megawati Encourages BRIN To Develop Nuclear Reactors In Indonesia

Chairman of the BRIN Steering Committee Megawati Soekarnoputri/ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Megawati Soekarnoputri encouraged BRIN to re-develop nuclear reactors in Indonesia.

"Bung Karno alone has thought for us to have a nuclear reactor. I really remember that in Bandung, his name was Triga Mark," Megawati said at the signing of the BRIN and TVRI Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the TVRI building, Central Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 12.

The 2000 Triga Reactor in Bandung is the first reactor in Indonesia.

The reactor, whose real name is Reactor Triga Mark II, was inaugurated by the First President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno in 1965 as a training center, research, and production center for radioisotopes for various purposes, both medical, industrial, or research.

According to Megawati, it is not too late for BRIN to develop research on nuclear matter by utilizing the Triga 2000. In fact, the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia said that Indonesia could catch up with countries that were first developing nuclear, such as North Korea (North Korea).

"So actually if we can develop it again, I don't think it's too late. We can catch up with those who already have it," he said.

He revealed that North Korea is often considered an underdeveloped country, in fact, capable of developing nuclear technology that is more advanced than most countries.

This, he said, was due to the people's very high dedication to their country. Megawati then questioned why Indonesia and existing human resources (HR) did not do the same as North Korea.

"I often think, why a country that is still, such as North Korea, can even have a nuclear, which means why? (because of the quality) of its human beings," he said.

Megawati explained that research development, including the issue of nuclear reactors, does not only depend on the budget. According to her, this development must be born from the wishes of Indonesian children, including BRIN.

He gave an example of the construction of the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK), Jakarta. At that time technology was not as sophisticated as it is now.

However, he explained, the stadium was successfully built by the nation's children and became the pride of Indonesia.

"Of course remember this there is GBK, which at that time was not much technology around the ring. So we can already. That is also assisted by our own children so that they can build it," he explained.

Therefore, Megawati said that Indonesia could develop innovation and research in the nuclear reactor sector if there was a desire to build it.

The reason, he said, innovation and research can be developed without dealing with the budget alone. The most important thing is that there is careful planning.

"Then where did the money come from? It's just like that. It's not the money from where it used to be, then make a plan," he concluded.