The Japanese government is committed to supporting the advancement of Japan's nuclear industry overseas. Government policy, as stated in Japan's Nuclear Power National Plan, released by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) in August 2006, is to "actively support the global development of the Japanese nuclear industry". Furthermore, in 2006 METI commissioned the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to carry out a study into the potential for introducing nuclear power to Indonesia and Vietnam.
Indonesia has had plans to introduce nuclear power since the 1950s, but, due to such factors as citizens' opposition, economic crisis, and the impact of the Chernobyl accident, plans to introduce commercial nuclear power plants have foundered repeatedly. However, in the last few years, moves to build nuclear power plants have reemerged, in particular on the Muria Peninsula of Java, and several countries, including Japan, are positioning themselves to sell nuclear power plants to Indonesia.
At the same time, opposition to the introduction of nuclear power is growing. Your department is deeply involved in this issue, so we address the following questions and demands to you.
1) Indonesia, with a public and private debt of 130 billion US dollars, is one of the world's most indebted nations. Japan is the main creditor, holding two thirds of this debt. A single nuclear reactor will cost several hundred billion yen. Added to the associated infrastructure costs, this will be a further burden on the Indonesian economy. This means that there is a great risk that any investment by Japanese companies in Indonesian nuclear reactors will be unrecoverable. We request that you clarify whether it is your understanding that exporting nuclear reactors to debt-ridden Indonesia will indeed be beneficial for the economies of both Indonesia and Japan. If this is your understanding, we further request that you clarify the basis for this understanding.
2) Indonesia is located in a region which is very prone to earthquakes. Muria Peninsula, one of the proposed sites for a nuclear power plant, is located in Central Java, which was struck by a huge earthquake in 2005. There is serious doubt about the safety of Japan's nuclear power plants in the event of an earthquake. If an earthquake were to cause a major accident at a nuclear power plant, the exporting nation would not escape blame. We request that you clarify your department's understanding concerning this issue.
3) In the 1990s the Japanese company NEWJEC conducted a feasibility study (FS) for a nuclear power plant on the Muria Peninsula. We would appreciate it if you would provide details of the type of surveys carried out at the time in regard to Indonesia's natural environment, geology, and the frequency and size of earthquakes. After plans for this nuclear power plant resurfaced, the IAEA conducted a review for the Indonesian government based on this FS. We understand that it suggested the addition of further information on earthquakes, geology and volcanic activity. Has your department obtained information on earthquakes, geology and volcanic activity? If so, we request that you provide details of this information.
4) The movement opposed to nuclear power in Indonesia has grown considerably recently. In June thousands of people participated in demonstrations in Central Java. It is clear that the plan to introduce nuclear power does not reflect the wishes of the people. Your department should confirm that it will not support the export of nuclear power plants against the wishes of the people.
5) According to a report by JETRO on the potential for introducing nuclear power to Indonesia (March 2007), Indonesia's energy use is very inefficient. At 470 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) per $1 million GDP, it is five times less efficient than Japan. The report also points out that the necessary electricity distribution network is not in place. Indonesia has abundant natural energy resources, including geothermal and solar energy. The environmental impact of such energy is small. It is superior from the perspectives of safety, cost and time required for introduction, and supply to areas not connected to the grid. It would benefit the Indonesian people more, therefore, for Japan to promote the transfer of energy efficiency and sustainable energy technology.
We question your department's attitude towards cooperation on sustainable energy and the improvement of energy efficiency and request details of concrete energy assistance programs in progress besides nuclear energy.
On the basis of the above, we demand that government support for the global development of the Japanese nuclear industry, in particular support for the introduction of nuclear power to Indonesia, be reconsidered.
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs
Greenpeace Japan
No Nukes Asia Forum Japan
Network for Indonesian Democracy, Japan
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