BAPETEN received a visit from the Deputy Chairperson of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial DPRD. The meeting was attended by the Acting Chairman of BAPETEN, Zainal Arifin; the Deputy Chairman for Nuclear Assessment and Safety, Haendra Subekti; the Director of Licensing for Nuclear Installations and Materials (DPIBN), Wiryono; the Director of Regulation of Nuclear Installations and Materials (DP2IBN), Nur Syamsi Syam; and relevant staff members. Representatives from the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial DPRD included Deputy Chairperson Imelda, along with members Imam Wahyudi, Leviyan, Yogi Maulana, Bobby Prima Sandy Muslim, and Zarril Khiffari.

The meeting opened with a question-and-answer session initiated by the Deputy Chairperson of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial DPRD, Imelda. She raised points regarding the NPP construction, specifically the need for trials or assessments before proceeding with a site on one of the islands in Bangka Belitung, and questioned whether the project would involve only the government without engaging the local communities who would be affected by the development area.

This was followed by questions from the attending DPRD members regarding public outreach for the NPP. They emphasized that communication should not focus solely on hazards and anxieties but should prioritize campaigns regarding safety to prevent undue worry among residents in the proposed construction area, as well as inquiries into the reasons behind selecting Bangka Island as the NPP construction site.

Following the questions from the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial DPRD, the Acting Chairman of BAPETEN responded during the audience by stating, "The use of nuclear technology must be safe and secure; safety is BAPETEN's primary aspect and is not subject to outside interference, as safety would otherwise be compromised. BAPETEN is fully committed to ensuring public safety. Nuclear power plant construction must take place in areas free from fault lines and with minimal risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis. Therefore, should a permit application be submitted for Bangka Island, BAPETEN will evaluate it based on three aspects: safety, security, and safeguards."

Subsequently, the Deputy Chairman for Nuclear Assessment and Safety, Haendra Subekti, added, "The implementation of supervisory outreach in Bangka Belitung highlights the importance of open communication channels prior to BAPETEN granting any permits. Such communication must be maintained between BAPETEN and the Bangka Belitung Provincial Government. Looking ahead, approximately 28 locations across Indonesia are slated for similar activities. Consequently, local governments in potential locations must be involved from the outset to ensure a clear understanding of the benefits their regions stand to gain. West Bangka will be prioritized and serve as a pilot location model. The government at both central and local levels, along with the private sector, has taken the initiative to collaborate on this endeavor."

The remarks by Deputy Chairman Haendra Subekti concluded the audience held during the working visit of the Deputy Chairperson of the Bangka Belitung Islands DPRD to BAPETEN, conducted to coordinate the oversight of the planned nuclear power plant construction, and the event ended with a group photo of all participants. [BHKK/OR/Translator: GP]