Legal analysis regarding nuclear power plant and its relation to the protection of environment and society

Abstract

The need for energy in Indonesia is increasing every year because Indonesia is a country with 742.308 square miles from east to west and the population in 2020 is estimated at 273.523.600 people. The Government of Indonesia has already planned to build Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) since the year 2000, but some people think that nuclear is very dangerous for man and the environment. So, the question is how are the regulations that already exist can protect humans and the environment in Indonesia from the operation of NPP. The goal of this research is to explore all regulations nationally and internationally regarding nuclear activity especially about NPP, and whether these regulations can protect humans and the environment in Indonesia. From the law perspective, Indonesia has Law Number 10 the Year 1997 on Nuclear Energy, Government Regulation (GR) Number 54 the Year 2012 on Safety and Security of Nuclear Installations, and GR Number 2 the Year 2014 on the Licensing of Nuclear Installations and Use of Nuclear Materials. Indonesia also ratified some international conventions such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. As a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Indonesia has to follow IAEA rules and standards to protect humans and the environment from nuclear activity. The conclusion is that from a law perspective, it is safe to build NPP since these regulations are enough to protect the society and the environment of Indonesia.