Minister Of Research And Technology Affirms Indonesia To Be The Behind Country Without PLTN In Today's Memory, March 30, 2015

Illustration - Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, 10 years ago, March 30, 2015, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Menristekdikti), Mohamad Nasir emphasized that Indonesia is an underdeveloped country without a nuclear power plant (PLTN). He considers a country like Bangladesh alone has built a PLTN.

Previously, the plan to build PLTN in the country became a polemic. Rejections appear everywhere. PLTN is considered to have brought a lot of harm rather than benefits. Mass organizations like Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) alone refused.

The glow of nuclear energy has graced the world. One by one countries in the world are starting to be interested in presenting PLTN in their respective countries. They are tempted by the energy efficiency offered. Likewise with the level of nuclear energy that lacks greenhouse gas emissions.

Indonesia has recently begun to be tempted. The PLTN development plan was launched in 2007. The Muria Peninsula area, Jepara, Central Java is considered the right location for PLTN. The idea of PLTN development to be heralded can bring many benefits.

The Indonesian people are asked not to worry about the negative impact of nuclear energy, especially leakage matters. This is because the management will be carried out professionally. The presence of PLTN is considered to increase the lives of the Indonesian people.

The plan to build PLTN has no introduction. Rejections emerged from everywhere. The development of PLTN is considered to have brought many harm, rather than benefits. NU as a large Islamic organization intervened to promote PLTN's rejection.

NU has gathered experts and asked for their opinion regarding nuclear energy. As a result, NU believes that nuclear energy is not suitable in Indonesia. The government's handling of radioactive waste and the ability to handle waste are also questioned.

They see an example from the previous one. The conclusion drawn by NU reveals that nuclear energy must be rejected. NU already understands for itself how the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan was hit by a tsunami until it leaked in 2011.

Countries like Japan alone that are disciplined in technology fail to dispel the adverse effects of nuclear. Indonesia, which is considered not at the same level as Japan regarding technological adaptation and discipline, is very doubtful about the presence of 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.

Rejections are coming one after another. However, the Indonesian government's desire to present PLTN has never been extinguished. This condition is because countries on the other Asian continent have started presenting PLTN, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Minister of Research and Technology, Mohamad Nasir also did not want to postpone the construction of PLTN in Indonesia. He revealed this on March 30, 2015. He did not want the plan to attend PLTN to be canceled. Because, he revealed that if Indonesia fails to build, then Indonesia will become a backward country.

Nasir said that the presence of PLTN could increase the lives of the Indonesian people. He also plans to carry out an educational process for the Indonesian people. Even though it never materialized.

Kalau tidak bangun sekarang, nanti kalah bersaing. Bangladesh sudah bangun, Vietnam juga bangun. Kalau Indonesia tidak membangun, jadi negara kurang, ujar Nasir sebagaimana dikutip laman COMPASS.com, 30 maret 2015.