Environment
Indonesia announces plan for nuclear power plant after 2025
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JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Indonesia is planning to build a nuclear power plant after 2025, said Director-General of Electricity at Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resource, Rida Mulyana in an online interview with CNBC Indonesia in April.
The construction of a nuclear power plant aims to fulfill the rising energy demand. Also, a nuclear power station is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Rida said that the proposal for the nuclear power plant is in line with Government Regulation No.79/2014 on National Energy Policy.
Indonesia has conducted several feasibility studies regarding nuclear power plants since the 1990s.
However, Indonesia has so far had two nuclear power plants–one in Bandung and the other one in Serpong–for research purposes, not for energy needs.
A simple definition of nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is the energy in the core of an atom. Such energy can produce electricity, but it must be released from the atom first.
While the construction of a nuclear power plant can be costly, nuclear energy may be more efficient and low-cost than coal—one of Indonesia’s key energy sources— as one ounce of uranium is equal to hundreds of tonnes of coal, said Komaidi Notonegoro, executive director at the Research Institute for Mining and Energy Economics.
“However, there are grave concerns that nuclear will be used for weapons. Also, negative perception about nuclear still exists due to some incidents like the Fukushima incident in 2011,” Komaidi told TOC on 3 May.
In August 2020, Indonesia’s former minister of research and technology Bambang Brojonegoro said in a virtual discussion that the country needed a nuclear power plant as a means to reach the use of renewable energy of 31 per cent in 2050.
He then elaborated that the use of a nuclear power plant could cut carbon dioxide emission up to 9 million tonnes per year, equivalent to emission reduction from 2 million cars.
According to Nuclear Connect, the electricity that can be generated from one kilogram of uranium is equivalent to that generated from one tonne of coal, 42 gallons of oil, or 17,000 cubics of natural gas.
Different opinions about nuclear energy
Experts differ on the use of nuclear energy. Some claim it is the safest energy to harness in the process of cutting carbon emissions. Others argue that nuclear energy is not very cost-effective or environmentally friendly.
“Without a doubt, one of the least commonly known and most counterintuitive facts about nuclear energy is that it’s one of the safest and cleanest sources of energy in the world,” Marc Lewis from Ecowatch told TOC in an email interview.
“Again, research by Our World in Data shows that it has even when considering disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear energy is responsible for the fewest number of deaths per TWh of energy produced,” he added.
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR), released in 2019, claimed that nuclear energy is too expensive and not effective in lowering emissions.
“Stabilising the climate is urgent, but nuclear power is slow. It meets no technical or operational need that these low-carbon competitors cannot meet at a better, cheaper, and faster rate.”
“Even sustaining economically-distressed reactors saves less carbon per dollar and per year than reinvesting its avoidable operating cost (let alone its avoidable new subsidies) into cheaper efficiency and renewables,” Mycle Scheider, lead author of the report observed.
The report noted that ten countries —even some with widely-known nuclear ambitions like China—generate power from renewable energy more than nuclear.
Renewables—hydropower, solar, wind, biomass and waste, geothermal, wave, and tidal sources —contributed 95 per cent to the added electricity generating capacity in the European Union since September 2018.
In 2019, only four per cent of global main energy came from nuclear, Our World in Data revealed.
Nuclear energy is used in some European countries in their energy mix.
In France, nuclear energy accounted for 36.8 per cent of the country’s energy production, followed by Sweden (26.7 per cent), Ukraine (21.7 per cent), Slovakia (21 per cent), Bulgaria (19.8 per cent), according to Our World in Data.
As of May 2020, Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) stated that fossil fuel accounted for 85 per cent of the country’s electricity, with coal-steamed power plant and gas power plant as top contributors.
The ministry also explained that Indonesia’s domestic coal consumption reached 109 million tonnes up to October 2020.
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Source: Our World in Data
Do geological factors spark concerns on Indonesia’s nuclear plans?
Indonesia sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world, where 75 per cent of active volcanoes are located.
Therefore, developing a nuclear power plant can be risky in Indonesia due to the geological factor.
“All I can say is that the risk of accidents is certainly significantly increased when a nuclear power plant is located in an area with frequent earthquakes and/or tsunamis. This might explain why so many European countries use nuclear energy, given the relative scarcity of natural disasters in the area,” Lewis explained.
Plans to include the use of nuclear as an energy source in the new and renewable energy law draft bill (RUU EBT) appear to be underway.
The Indonesia Renewable Energy Society (METI) suggested that Law No.10/1997 on nuclear power should be revised to include the use of nuclear as an energy source.
METI also claimed that people have mixed perceptions about the definition of new and renewable energy sources. The creation of the RUU EBT, said METI Chief Surya Darma, has triggered confusion among the public.
Renewable energy sources, unlike fossil fuels, can be restored. Such energy sources comprise solar, wind, water, bioenergy, geothermal, and sea energy, as cited in Katadata.
New energy, on the other hand, emerges from the use of technology and can be derived from fossil energy.
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Environment
Japanese scientists find microplastics are present in clouds
In Japan, researchers confirm microplastics in clouds, impacting climate. Airborne microplastics, 7.1 to 94.6 micrometers in size, found in cloud water, potentially affecting rapid cloud formation and climate systems.
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — Researchers in Japan have confirmed microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that aren’t yet fully understood.
In a study published in Environmental Chemistry Letters, scientists climbed Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in order to collect water from the mists that shroud their peaks, then applied advanced imaging techniques to the samples to determine their physical and chemical properties.
The team identified nine different types of polymers and one type of rubber in the airborne microplastics — ranging in size from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometers.
Each liter of cloud water contained between 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of the plastics.
What’s more, “hydrophilic” or water-loving polymers were abundant, suggesting the particles play a significant role in rapid cloud formation and thus climate systems.
“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed proactively, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, causing irreversible and serious environmental damage in the future,” lead author Hiroshi Okochi of Waseda University warned in a statement Wednesday.
When microplastics reach the upper atmosphere and are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, they degrade, contributing to greenhouse gasses, added Okochi.
Microplastics — defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters — come from industrial effluent, textiles, synthetic car tires, personal care products and much more.
These tiny fragments have been discovered inside fish in the deepest recesses of the ocean peppering Arctic sea ice and blanketing the snows on the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.
But the mechanisms of their transport have remained unclear, with research on airborne microplastic transport in particular limited.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on airborne microplastics in cloud water,” the authors wrote in their paper.
Emerging evidence has linked microplastics to a range of impacts on heart and lung health, as well as cancers, in addition to widespread environmental harm.
— AFP
Community
SG Climate Rally draws over 1,400 attendees at Hong Lim Park with focus on inclusiveness and pervasive nature of climate change
The SG Climate Rally, held at Hong Lim Park on Sep 23, brought together over 1,400 people to raise awareness about climate change’s impact on marginalized communities, showcasing diverse speakers and activities, promoting inclusivity and engagement.
Local political figures and bipartisan support highlighted the importance of climate action.
Despite its success, a survey revealed that Singaporeans lag behind in climate advocacy. Organizers aim to make climate awareness more mainstream and inclusive.
SINGAPORE – The SG Climate Rally, held at Hong Lim Park on Saturday (23 Sep), brought together an impressive gathering of over 1,400 people to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on marginalized communities.
This year’s rally was marked by a central theme of inclusiveness, highlighting the disproportionate burden borne by lower-income residents in the face of climate change.
This youth-led movement invited several speakers to emphasize the importance of giving voice to these marginalized individuals when crafting climate-related policies.
One of the remarkable moments of the event was the heartfelt speech by Ms Marlina Yased, a mother of five residing in a two-room rental flat for 13 years.
Her impassioned words resonated with the audience, underlining the idea that individual voices can be powerful tools for delivering a meaningful message.
Ms Marlina stated, “As the climate crisis worsens, we must not give up.
“We must understand that we, the people also have the power to make change.”
Rally speakers reinforcing rally’s theme of inclusivity
The event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including former Nominated Member of Parliament Geh Min, sustainability strategist Madhu Ardhanari, co-founder of LepakInSG Ho Xiang Tian, and Nor Syazwan Abdul Majid, who founded Wan’s Ubin Journal.
These speakers reinforced the rally’s theme of inclusivity and the unequal distribution of climate impacts.
Ho Xiang Tian, Co-founder of LepakinSG, expressed his concerns over Singapore’s carbon tax policies.
In 2017, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources proposed a carbon tax of S$10 a tonne. However, after industry consultations, this figure was unexpectedly halved to S$5 a tonne.
While seemingly small, this reduction translates to a staggering shortfall of S$200 million annually in tax revenue. Cumulatively, the deficit amounts to S$1 billion over four years. As the need to gather funds for coastal defense looms, taxpayers are shouldering the burden, while industries gain from reduced carbon tax rates.
Ho Xiang Tian also shed light on the minimal tax contributions of major petrochemical corporations in Singapore.
Despite a 17% headline corporate tax rate, companies like Shell and British Petroleum paid effective tax rates of just 2% and 6%, respectively, in 2019. He noted that the exact figures for ExxonMobil remain undisclosed.
Generous tax incentives from the EDB and MTI are primarily responsible for this trend, said Ho, emphasizing that these corporations must pay their fair share, highlighting the urgency of environmental responsibility.
For Ms Marlina, the tangible effects of climate change are evident in her daily life, where the rising heat in her apartment has made air conditioning, even portable units, an unaffordable luxury for her family.
She added that the heat not only increases her work-related stress but also brings about financial burdens due to rising water usage, heightened risks of skin ailments, and more frequent medical appointments.
Mr Syazwan, who runs the social platform Wan’s Ubin Journal, highlighted the importance of incorporating indigenous voices and history into climate policy and education.
He emphasized the sustainable practices of the Orang Pulau and their understanding of the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature.
“The Orang Pulau were champions of sustainability. They understood what nature provided for them and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Kristian-Marc James Paul, the rally organizer, stressed that climate justice is inherently linked to broader societal issues.
Event activities promoting inclusivity and engagement
Besides speeches, various environmental and civil society groups had also set up booths at the event to raise awareness about their causes and provided opportunities for participants to engage with their local representatives through postcards.
Specifically, environmental organizations like Students for a Fossil-Free Future and People’s Movement to Stop Haze (PM.Haze), along with civil society groups such as Migrant Mutual Aid and Workers Make Possible, had set up their individual community booths.
In addition to distributing postcards to MPs, their Facebook post mentioned a variety of other activities like Climate Games, Placard Art Jam, Learning Corner, Earth Emotions, Climate A(r)ction, and something referred to as Nature Nook: Kids’ Play Station.
These activities are clearly designed to be inclusive and cater to individuals of all ages, aligning with the rally’s central theme of inclusivity.
Political figures in attendance at climate rally
In attendance were political figures, including Members of Parliament.
People’s Action Party MP Wan Rizal, who said that he looked forward to receiving postcards from his Jalan Besar residents as they would “know the environment best.”
Furthermore, he mentioned that he had also written a postcard to his own MP regarding the preservation of green areas in his Pasir Ris community.
MPs from Workers’ Party, including He Ting Ru, Dennis Tan, Louis Chua, Gerald Giam, and Jamus Lim, were also present at the event, demonstrating bipartisan support for climate action.
Additionally, Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai from the Progress Singapore Party and Ravi Philemon, secretary-general of Red Dot United, were also in attendance.
Singaporeans’ limited urgency in addressing climate change
Despite the rally’s success, the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey Report 2023 which was published by the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute, revealed that Singaporeans’ engagement with climate advocacy lags behind their regional counterparts.
The survey showed a decline in the percentage of Singaporeans viewing climate change as a serious and immediate threat.
Only 43.7 per cent of Singaporeans polled believe that climate change “is a serious and immediate threat to the well-being of the country,” a significant drop from 66.4 per cent in 2021, but a slight increase from 40.5 per cent in 2022.
It showed that fewer Singaporeans took steps to sign climate change related petitions (17.6 per cent) and attend protests (3.2 per cent) compared to Asean’s average of 18.2 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively.
Mr Paul explained that discussing climate change isn’t a common practice among Singaporeans.
Therefore, he hope to shift the narrative by making climate awareness a more mainstream and inclusive discussion.
He emphasizes that the rally aims to serve as a platform to initiate conversations about climate change and its unequal impacts on society.
Hoping that climate awareness would become less of a “niche” issue, Ms Ardhanari said that while a small group of Singaporeans may have a “high level of awareness”, the broader awareness in Singapore has not yet aligned with the magnitude and nature of climate change’s impact.
She added that Singaporeans could no longer afford to remain in “echo chambers” around climate change.
“This is something that affects all of us, but it seems like the people who want to talk about is a very small group of people, and are often disconnected with people who are facing the most of who are most vulnerable to impact.”
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