Indonesia's Nuclear Expert Joining Fact-finding Mission in Fukushima

LONDON, KOMPAS.com - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appointed Dedik Eko Sumargo, an Indonesian expert in nuclear emergency response and radiation protection, to join a fact-finding mission to Japan’s tsunami-crippled Fukushima power plant.

Dedik is one of the 20 international nuclear experts to join the mission, Luna Amanda Sidqi, third secretary of the Indonesian embassy/permanent representative in Vienna, Austria, said in an emailed statement to an Antara correspondent in London on Tuesday. The IAEA director general saw off the group of 20 who would be conducting the mission from May 24 to June 2.

During the mission, they would conduct initial assessment of nuclear safety at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant severely damaged by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, she said. The results of the assessment would be reported to the IAEA board of governors on June 6 ahead of an IAEA ministerial meeting on nuclear safety scheduled for June 20-24 in Vienna.

Dedik is among the four experts of the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) proposed by the Indonesian government to the IAEA director general and the Japanese government to help handle post-tsunami situations in Japan. Indonesian ambassador/permanent representative in Vienna I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja officially proposed Dedik’s nomination to the IAEA secretary general and the Japanese ambassador to Austria at the end of last April.

Dedik who has experience in radiation protection for 21 years and emergency response for 12 years has so far been actively taking part in various scientific activities related to the two issues. The appointment of Dedik to join the mission was the UN atomic agency’s and the world community’s recognition of Indonesia’s nuclear technology mastery and its emergency response, Luna said.

She said the appointment also confirmed the world community’s view on Indonesia as one of the developing nations that had made progress in the mastery of nuclear technology.