Tuesday, 19 August 2014

INDONESIA TO WALL OUT SMUGGLING OF RADIO ACTIVE WASTE IN HARBORS



The Board of Nuclear Controlling of RI would enhance the process of installation of Radio Portal Monitor [RPM] in two harbors, beside the already existing RPM in 5 harbors namely Tanjung Priok Jakarta, Tanjung Perak Surabaya, Sekupang Batam, Belawan Medan, and Tanjung Emas Semarang. The RPM installation was part of the effort to ensure safety and security in nuclear application in harbor operations. Bapetan had enhanced control and inspection in harbors and airports to prevent smuggling of radio active elements. “RPM had been installed in 5 harbors”.

“We will carry on building RPM in 2 other harbors: one in Makassar, South Sulawesi and another one in Bitung, North Sulawesi. All containers unloaded from the ship must pass through RPM screening. The alarm system would signal message if nuclear was detected” Sugeng Sumbardjo, the Director of the Radio active Inspection of Bapeten disclosed to Business News [18/7].

To install RPM simultaneously might help to prevent nuclear crime. As black marketing of radio active elements was at large, Custom and Bapeten officials were affront in inspecting activities. The coordination and inspection system was closely related with the Permit division. “In this case of delivery, the sender country must inform the recipient, or else we would apply the RPM detection system:

The inspection and law enforcement system in Bapeten at every gate of entry was well integrated with the Indonesian National Single Window electronic system which was integrated nationwide and accessible through internet. By operation of portal INSW radio active could be detected and officials would know instantly. Our officials would check the permit from Bapeten”

Besides raw materials, all nuclear equipments imported to Indonesia needed Bapeten’s permit. In loading or unloading or freight, officials would inspect permit. Besides, in accordance with the message in Law no. 10/1997 on nuclear energy, in matters of controlling, Bapten was bound with international agreement.

Content of freight was addressed by sender country to Bapeten. The Nuclear Controlling Authority from originating country send the content to Bapeten. “We would ask whether there is any company on their side who intended to export, and their Bapeten would ask us whether there is any company on our side planning to export products. The company needed to have permit, That’s Category 1 controlling”

In category II controlling, the supplier country must send notice regularly to Bapeten. For example in July there would be delivery by company A,B,C. The Bapeten official would prepare control mechanism in term of safety and security of products. There was also control in harbors over nuclear technology. Bapeten would only issue permit for products that had met certain standard. “New technology must still be controlled and permitted by us”.

Bapeten was also preparing distribution map of nuclear application in Indonesia. Application of nuclear energy in Indonesia was for people’s welfare, i.e. in the sectors of health, agriculture, animal farming, industry and energy [PLTN Nuclear Powered Generators] but control had to be exercised considering the risk on the safety of workers, the people and environment. So far the issued permit for nuclear application numbered 6,387 permits for industry, 6,968 for health and 38 for research. The permit was distributed among 3,146 permit applications in all of Indonesia. Bapetan had the list of hospitals using nuclear power, and the public was permitted to know.

So far Bapeten had identifies the type of violations made by nuclear users operating without permit. “In case of hospitals, the violations are: hospitals do not have competent personnel. We have rendered counseling service for 15 years. If they persist to operate, we take action, starting with gradual warning. There after we take repressive measures in accordance with Article 17 of Law no. 10/1997”

Still, Bapeten had to face dilemmatic problem in dealing with hospitals in remote areas, especially outside Java; some hospitals were using nuclear powered health instruments. “There was a hospital in a remote region using nuclear power and the only one. Our personnel gave the hospital technical aid in operating and maintaining the equipments. The expensive equipment also had risk.”

“They did not have competent specialists like radiographer and specialist physicians. Any big cities in Java had such personnel. This is our common problem although illumination was constantly exercised. Officials of the Health Department at provincial level are also involved. But in terms of law enforcement the condition is still dilemmatic”. (SS) 

Business New - July 23, 2014

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