In Indonesia, the development of nuclear energy is being considered as an alternative to Coal, Geothermal, Oil and gas fuelled power stations. There is mixed opinion on the subject, but, for me it is simple…
It scares the shit out of me!.
If I were one of the poor individuals who live near to the Research Centre of Science and Technology (known as Puspitek) in Tangerang, I’d be looking for new accommodation quickly.
Puspitek, despite it’s “tame” name houses a nuclear laboratory in which experiments are conducted for industrial and scientific purposes.
Those whom were interviewed by the Jakarta Post a few moths ago stated that they were not concerned about nuclear accidents or research activities inside the centre as they had lived safely in the area for years.
"We know it is a centre for scientific research and development. Those who work for the institute live inside the complex with their families, so I don't see any reason to worry," said one fuckwit. It appears that because the staff live within the complex that this means it is safe for everyone.
The same fuckwit, in the next breath said the only lingering fear residents held was that one day there could be another explosion at the centre.
An explosion occurred at the centre last September when a group of researchers conducted a series of experiments on biodiesel simulation in a laboratory used for the development of nuclear technology.
The explosion damaged 80 percent of the laboratory, causing damage totaling Rp 3.1 billion (approximately US$332,000).
Located 30 kilometres west of Jakarta on a 460-hectare plot of land, Puspitek Serpong employs some 1,500 researchers.
As it is home to many researchers and their families, the centre also has its own water treatment facilities, waste disposal system, sports facilities, mosques and education centres.
A number of Indonesian organisations have apparently made statements to the effect that residents of the area already be contaminated with radioactive waste. One such organisation claimed that hundreds of school students had come into contact with heavy metal and sulphur. Given the industries around this area and the fact that the pollution is so great, it is likely that these chemicals could have come from anywhere.
In true Indonesian form a series of blood tests carried out by the National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan, The agency is a subsidiary of the centrer in charge of nuclear studies.) uncovered no irregularities. But then again, they would probably never find anything anyway, strange though, as stated above, traces of pollutants should have been found due to the state of the environment.
Separately, a Tangerang Health Agency official said his team monitored pollution levels around the research centre each September.
They conducted a series of blood tests and found that the blood of students who lived far from the centre contained higher amounts of lead than students who lived inside the centre.
The Head of Batan (presumably a Dr Fuckwit) has claimed that the centre guaranteed the safety of its projects by adhering to nuclear quality assurance standards as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency's infrastructure standards.
In my mind, if they can blow up Biodiesel, what do you think they could do with plutonium?
Nuclear Energy in Indonesia is a completely different subject, I think I may just take a look into the prospects of Reactors within the Ring of Fire later…doesn’t bear thinking about just now.
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