Russia is ready to assist Indonesia in developing nuclear power plants for development and peace purposes, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin said.
“Russia has experience in managing nuclear. Therefore, if requested, we are ready to help develop nuclear power plants and nuclear energy in Indonesia,” he said at his residence here on Monday.
But he added that Russia will not interfere in the internal affairs of Indonesia to decide whether or not it will go ahead with the plan to build nuclear power plants.
“Of course, the government and people of Indonesia must decide the project themselves. Russia will always support it for peace purpose and in the interests of the general public,” he said.
The plan to build nuclear power plants in Indonesia has sparked pros and cons even if the National Nuclear Energy Board (BATAN) has assured that nuclear in Indonesia will be used for peace and state development.
The result of a survey conducted by BATAN shows 70 percent of Indonesian people agree that nuclear energy in Indonesia must be developed in the interests of the public. However, the rest is opposed to the development of nuclear power plants on the ground they are prone to dangerous nuclear accident.
Minister of Technology Research and Higher Education M. Nasir said the people should not be worried about nuclear power plants because they serve as potential energy sources.
