WORLD: Development of Irradiation Technology in Indonesia (BATAN)
BATAN (Indonesia): Malaysia Has Four Gamma Irradiators, Why We’re Nothing!
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto met with Head of National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto, at Kemenko Polhukam, Central Jakarta, Monday (8/28/2017).
In the meeting, Djarot conveyed about the increasing utilization of technology created by Batan in various fields, especially in agriculture. Djarot asked Wiranto to promote technology to the relevant ministries / agencies to establish cooperation in the utilization of technology for the benefit of the community. He acknowledged, Batan has limitations if you have to move alone because it only has four offices, namely in Jakarta, Bandung, Serpong, and Yogyakarta.
“We are both government (institution), hopefully if we can work together with fellow government agencies, it can be better than Batan move alone,” said Djarot, after the meeting.
“Maybe it’s not related to politics, law and security, but at least it’s a good thing, we have a product for food preservation, in terms of important food security, we convey to him (Wiranto), and he has many ideas. want to convey to other parties, “he said.
Djarot said that currently Batan has a technology in agriculture that becomes a priority, namely gamma irradiator. The technology serves to preserve food. For example, if Indonesia wants to sell sea food commodities like shrimp to Europe, then the tool can be used to prevent bacterial contamination. In addition, said Djarot, gamma irradiators can also be used to preserve post-harvest rice.
“If the tropical country is 40 percent of our agricultural products quickly damaged, so if you use radiation can be more durable,” he said.
Unfortunately, Indonesia has not utilized gamma irradiator technology. Quoted from Batan website, Indonesia only has two gamma irradiator facilities. One belongs to BATAN for research activities and another one belongs to PT. Relion Sterilization Services for commercial activities located in Cibitung, West Java. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Vietnam have four gamma irradiators.
“Malaysia and Vietnam have four, why do we not build it up like that? Maybe it could be more than built by Malaysia and Vietnam, we can make it in many areas and can be assisted by stakeholders,” Djarot said.
Badan Tenaga Atom Nasional (BATAN)