Head of Bapeten Addressed the Importance of Regulation on Exploitation of Nuclear Energy

March 08, 2019 - ( update : 11-03-2019 )

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Exploitation of nuclear energy is a double-edged sword. On one side, it gives massive benefits, on another side, it may cause hazardous radiation. In order to prevent the danger, safety over the exploitation of nuclear energy is an absolute must. Therefore, Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) has conducted a series of supervision on exploitation of nuclear energy.

Head of Bapeten, Prof. Ir. Jazi Eko Istiyanto, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., said that in Indonesia nuclear energy has been widely used in many fields. In order to prevent negative impact to community and environment during the exploitation, Bapeten conducts the supervision and regulation.

“Bapeten’s duty is nuclear supervision in regulation, license, inspection, and rule enforcement,” said Prof. Jazi in a public lecture at ITB Ganesha Campus on Monday (4/3/2019). Prof. Jazi addressed a lecture themed “Information Technology in Nuclear Safety and Security”.

He explained that, Bapeten and National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (Batan) are two different agencies. Batan focuses on producing nuclear technology, while Bapeten focuses on producing technology for nuclear supervision, both on the aspect of information technology, electronics, and nuclear safety instrumentation.

He said that, according to Law No. 10/1997, Bapeten is tasked with supervision over all nuclear exploitation activities. There are three pillars of supervision conducted, such as creating regulation, issuing license, and conducting inspection. Those tasks are supported with the functions of study, nuclear preparedness, education, and training.

“The objects of Bapeten’s supervision are Batan, hospitals, oil & gas industries, NDT Corporation, and nuclear industries,” he explained.

Currently, Bapeten has issued licenses on nuclear energy exploitation. Among those licenses, 7,371 are for industries, 4,293 for health, and 460 for installation and material. Several fields have exploited nuclear radiation such as in farming, agriculture, radiography in industry, and teletherapy in medical field.

Prof. Jazi explained that all radiation devices, radiation safety officers, import and export, as well as radioactive/nuclear material should be licensed in order to conduct safety assurance in exploitation of nuclear energy. “Bapeten also conducts inspection and apply stickers to, for example, hospitals,” he said.

The public lecture was opened with a remark by Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of FMIPA-ITB, Prof. Dr.Eng. Abdul Waris, M.Eng. He said that the lecture also marks extension of MoU between Bapeten and ITB which was signed since long ago.