Licenses for the Use of Radiated Ions and Nuclear Material

Indonesia considers nuclear energy to be a clean energy option for the fulfillment of future energy needs. Not everyone is convinced that nuclear energy is safe energy and recent events commemorating the Chernobyl disaster is testament to that. However, the government is seeking to ease some of these fears by putting into place, albeit slowly and surely, a regulatory framework that will endeavor to ensure safety and security of radiated ions and nuclear materials.

Government Regulation No. 29 of 2008 sets out the conditions and procedures for licensing in this area to ensure that these procedures are tightly controlled, transparent, clear, effective, and fair in giving considerations to the risks involved in ensuring the safety and security of employees, the general community, and the environment with regard to the exploitation of radiated ions and nuclear materials.

The Regulation sets out how radioactive ions and nuclear material is to be categorized and then lists the types of ions and materials in each category. The Regulation then stipulates the minimum regulatory requirements that must be met with regard to administrative, technical, and special components.

In essence the Regulation mandates that a license cannot be issued unless all of the required components with respect to administrative, technical, and special factors are met.

The Nuclear Power Supervisory Agency (Badan Pengawas Tenaga Nuklir / BAPETEN) has considerable authority in ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Regulation.

The Regulation has been in force since 11 April 2008.