Indonesia Needs Nuclear Power Plants

Indonesia still needs nuclear power plants despite the growing rejection amid Japan's nuclear power crisis, an official said here Tuesday.

Ahmad Farhan Hamid, vice speaker of People Consultative Assembly, said, "This nation still needs nuclear power plant. The most important thing is that we have to find the most stable place in the country. Kalimantan Island, as far as I know, is one of the most geographically-stable locations in Indonesia," said Hamid.

People's safety comes first in this matter, he said. "The second most important thing is the technology choice."

"Not only that we have to anticipate nuclear reactor leakage, but we have to think about how to manage nuclear waste, and others, " said Hamid.

According to Hamid, whatever the government decides, public safety must be put on priority.

"As long as public safety could not be guaranteed, of course, choice on nuclear power plants could not be taken in the near term, " said Hamid.

Following radioactive leakage in Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, rejection of nuclear power plant construction in Indonesia grows.

Ministers, officials and environmental activists voiced their objection to nuclear.

Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said that a nuclear power plant is the last choice for Indonesia while Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said that Indonesia is not ready yet to have such a power plant.