Nuclear Plant at Gorontalo Must be Free of Tsunami
Tuesday, 21 November, 2006 | 16:17 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Gorontalo: The nuclear-based electricity generating plant (PLTN) project in Gorontalo which is to be built must be safe from a tsunami. If not, the project will harm the environment and the security of the generating plant itself.

It is planned that the generator will be located between two bays in order to avoid large waves. “The generator will be on a floating ship,” said nuclear expert Dr Bakri Arbie after a speech of “Innovation System of Development of the Nuclear Plant ” Tuesday (11/21) in Gorontalo.

Technically, he said, PLTN can be built on a floating ship. However, it must be in a secure place that is not subject to a tsunami taking into account some North Sulawesi's shores were frequently hit by tremors and that there is the risk of a tsunami.

According to the Head of the Serpong Nuclear Reactor, the use of nuclear energy for a electricity generating plant must observe aspects of economic, socio-culture, technological and their impact on the environment.

Bakri added that Nuclear Society Alliance has asked that the PLTN building on the floating ship must be patrolled. Moreover, PLTN on a floating ship has rarely been developed in the world. In addition, nuclear energy is still regulated nationally and there is a permit from the Nuclear Power Supervisory Agency.

As reported, the Russian electricity company Raoues will construct PLTN in Gorontalo. Russia is ready to build a generator with electricity capacity of 70 megawatt in 2007 and will be operated in early 2008.

The generator is expected to be capable of handling the electricity crisis in Gorontalo, which will be transmitted to North Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi.

Verrianto Madjowa