Shefali Rekhi – Indonesia's plan to buy a floating nuclear power plant from Russia is raising concerns about pollution, terrorism and accidents.
When and if a deal is signed, the floating power plant could be in place sometime between 2015 and 2017, Research and Technology Minister Hatta Radjasa has told reporters.
But many believe Indonesia should give the project a second thought. Environmentalists and anti-nuclear campaigners point to the risks of radioactive discharge and possible leakage of nuclear waste that could contaminate waterways.
Imagine a terrorist strike on such a soft target, its detractors say, while asking what might happen in the event of an accident such as the meltdown which caused the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
An accident along the coasts of Indonesia could lead to widespread contamination of neighbouring countries, Greenpeace activist Jean McSorley told The Straits Times from London.
The campaigner, who spent six years in South-east Asia, said Indonesia should also not forget that it lies in a geologically unstable area, vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
A floating nuclear plant with a ship-based reactor to generate 40 megawatts of power was offered to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri during her visit to Moscow earlier last week.
Russia has recently started work on its own seaborne nuclear power plant off the Barents Sea port of Severodvinsk. It is due to become operational in about five years.
"Indonesia must be cautious about investing in sensitive infrastructure capabilities as long as there is an active terrorist network in the country," said Mr Rohan Gunaratna of Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.
"The project would be a soft target. Let's not forget that the Jemaah Islamiyah mounted surveillance for maritime attacks before and after Sept 11 and is working closely with the Al-Qaeda, which was responsible for the USS Cole attacks," he said.
There are also questions about whether Indonesian workers are capable of handling both the project itself and any emergency work that might be required in the event of an accident.
"My key concern as an Indonesian is that we as a nation are careless people," said Mr Agus Pambagio, a Jakarta-based public-policy and consumer-issues observer. "There could be no problems in obtaining the plant and getting it operational – but finally we have to run it. Past experience shows we have been careless in maintenance and there is corruption. To me, the proposal sounds dangerous."
But Indonesia's guiding factor could be its growing energy needs, with demand expected to exceed supply by as early as 2005.