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JAKARTA : There are signs that Indonesia may put on hold plans to build its first nuclear power plant until it is certain that it will be safe.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla says, for now, Indonesia will rely on its vast reserves of renewable energy sources, such as geothermal and hydro-power to meet the country's energy needs.
Last year Indonesia announced plans to operate its first nuclear power plant by 2016 under country's National Energy Policy.
The site is near Muria Mountain in populated Central Java.
However safety concerns were raised as Indonesia sits in the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquake and volcanic activities.
Now Jakarta appears to be re-assessing its nuclear intentions.
VP Jusuf Kalla says: "There are discussions among scientists, according to the old plan under Pak Habibie. Until now, under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, we never talked about the real plan or even the dates of the year for nuclear plant in Indonesia."
The reasons for the change of heart follow the recent enactment of Indonesia's new energy law.
The new legislation sets out the broad policies for the development of the energy sector.
Mr Kalla says that Indonesia still has vast reserves of untapped renewable energy sources such as geo-thermal heat and hydro-power to meet the country's needs: "We hope this will be enough for us for now until the time when we can have safer nuclear power - not like in Japan now. We are more realistic about that."
In spite of quake-proof design and construction techniques, the world's largest nuclear power plant in Japan had leaked radioactive material after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked country.
Indonesia is painfully aware of its growing demand for energy to sustain its economic growth.
To fuel this need, a New National Energy Board chaired by the President is expected to be formed in the next six months.
It will serve as the highest-level policy maker in all energy sector development programmes in Indonesia. - CNA/ch
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