Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has sealed off and isolated areas contaminated with radioactive Cesium-137 at the Modern Cikande Industrial Estate in Serang Regency, Banten, following reports of tainted shrimp exports to the United States.
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said on Thursday that the government is coordinating with multiple agencies to contain the contamination and trace its source.
"The government has already taken security measures. We sealed and localized the affected areas together with the Banten Police, based on detector readings showing Cesium-137 emissions," Hanif told reporters in Jakarta.
Authorities suspect the contamination may be linked to iron and steel smelting industries located in the area. Investigators are probing whether industrial waste contributed to radioactive traces found in frozen shrimp exported to the US.
The government is working with the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), and other institutions to address the issue. Further steps will be discussed under the coordination of Chief Food Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
Hanif stressed the situation was under control. "God willing, everything is strongly contained. There is no need to worry as all areas have been localized," he said.
The case first emerged after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a report from Customs and Border Protection regarding a shipment of frozen shrimp from Indonesia contaminated with Cesium-137. The FDA subsequently placed a red list restriction on shrimp products from PT BMS, a company based in the Cikande industrial zone.
A joint investigation by the Environment Ministry, KKP, and Bapeten traced the shrimp supply chain to farms in Lampung and Pandeglang. Tests confirmed no radioactive contamination at the ponds or in raw materials, leading officials to conclude the source likely originated outside the processing facility.