Jusuf Kalla Affirms Nuclear Energy Is The Last Alternative In Today's Memory, April 14, 2015

PLTN Fukushima in Japan. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA Memories of today, nine years ago, April 14, 2015, Vice President (Wapres), Jusuf Kalla (JK) emphasized that nuclear energy is the last alternative to be used in Indonesia. JK considers Indonesia not ready with the development of nuclear energy.

He gave an example of Japan being confused because of nuclear. Previously, the plan to build a Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) had been blowing since 2007. The government is targeting the Central Java region as a place for nuclear reactors. The protests also emerged.

The advantages of the Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) are piled up. The presence of PLTN can produce a significant amount of energy, compared to other generators. This enthusiasm makes the government interested in presenting PLTN in Indonesia.

The state plans to build a PLTN in the Muria Peninsula area, Jepara, Central Java. This desire actually brought criticism from here and there. Those who threw criticism from across groups, from activists to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) kiai.

The kiai do not feel that the Indonesian government is ready to adopt nuclear energy. The superiority of nuclear energy can be piled up, but the challenges and risks are not small. The Indonesian government is unable to provide security guarantees from PLTN. Take for example the affairs of managing radioactive waste.

Kiai advises the government to better take advantage of existing resources, rather than insist on building PLTN. The rejection was no joke. NU to issue an illicit fatwa regarding nuclear energy. A maximum effort from rejection.

The film on the construction of PLTN had subsided for several years. However, recently the desire to build has actually returned. Those who reject nuclear are not afraid. The kiai continued to voice their objections regarding the government's plan.

NU even considers the government to be incompetent in dealing with nuclear affairs. The rejection became more intense when the Tsunami disaster swept Japan in 2011. The impact of the disaster caused an accident at the Fukushima PLTN. Japan, which in fact is the country's central technology, is confused about the destruction of the PLTN.

We do not lack smart people, but the security discipline is still weak. For this PLTN, we ask the government to cancel it. There is no guarantee from a security perspective for the impact of nuclear hazards, so long as there will also be fear in society which leads to rejection.

"NU once issued a fatwa ban on the development of PLTN in Indonesian territory during the leadership of Hasyim Muzadi. This has also been conveyed to the President," said PBNU General Chair Said Aqil Siradj at the closing of the Plenary Meeting of the National Working Conference (Mukernas) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Boarding School at the Krapyak Bantul Islamic Boarding School, Yogyakarta, as quoted on the Tempo.co page, March 28, 2011.

JK also agreed to the rejection of PLTN, who returned to office as Vice President of the Jokowi era. He felt the same way about PLTN. He is also worried that PLTN will actually become the estuary of a major disaster in Indonesia.

He also feels that Indonesia is better off developing other duhulu technologies. He considers nuclear to be the last alternative if Indonesia really lacks energy on April 14, 2015. The statement was revealed by JK at the National Seminar with the theme, Determining the Direction of Indonesia's Energy Policy, at the Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta.

"Nuclear is indeed a great potential but still the world is divided in opinion. However, in Java as long as there is other energy, I think this is the last alternative (energy)".

"Japan already wants to reduce its value (nuclear) due to Fukushima's (tragedy). As great as the Japanese keep their technology that is more thorough than ours, he also gets it. So, especially those of us who say that we are a bit reckless in regulating something is certainly worrying for the community," said JK as quoted by the Beritasatu.com page, April 14, 2015.