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. A plan to build a nuclear power plant on the Muria Peninsula of Java was suspended in 1997 due to the financial crisis. However, in the last few years, this plan has reemerged and several countries, including Japan, are positioning themselves to sell nuclear power plants to Indonesia.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has taken an active interest in exporting nuclear power plants to Indonesia. In the 1990s it sponsored a preliminary study concerning construction of the Muria nuclear power plant. We understand that, since the reemergence of this project, MHI has shown great interest in participating. Furthermore, a MHI staff member is listed on a committee for a project to support the introduction of nuclear power to the Asian region (refer JETRO report, March 2007).
Two Indonesians opposed to their government's plan to introduce nuclear power are currently in Japan. They will submit requests not to support this plan to the Japanese government and to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. We strongly urge your company to listen sincerely to their appeal and to choose not to participate in Indonesia's nuclear power project. Our views on the matter are outlined below.
1) If MHI wishes to provide support for Indonesia's energy supply and environmental response, rather than nuclear power, it should promote the transfer of its energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies. 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.
2) 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 investments in Indonesian nuclear reactors will be unrecoverable. It is highly likely that your company would suffer a loss on such an investment.
3) Indonesia is located in a region which is very prone to earthquakes. Earthquakes occur frequently, but the 2005 earthquake in Central Java and the devastation from the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra are still fresh in our memories. MHI would not escape blame if an earthquake were to cause a major accident at a nuclear power plant exported by MHI. Such an accident would do great damage to your company's corporate image.
4) Of course, any nuclear reactor export plan a must include an earthquake risk assessment. Has your company carried out an earthquake risk assessment for Indonesia, particularly for the Muria Peninsula, or does it have any plans to do so?
5) While the Indonesian government pursues its plan to construct a nuclear power plant, we are informed that the local people have received no official explanation. The movement opposed to nuclear power in Indonesia has grown considerably recently. According to newspaper reports, 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. From the perspective of corporate social responsibility, and also for the benefit of its corporate image, MHI should respect the wishes of the people and refrain from participating in Indonesia's nuclear power project.
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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