The Fukushima nuclear accident that occurred a decade ago has been considered a major accident

Abstract

The Fukushima nuclear accident that occurred a decade ago has been considered a major accident. In this decade period, various important aspects of this accident were considered well-established for learning to improve nuclear safety infrastructure and prevent similar major accidents. The learning is very relevant for Indonesia, which is considered as an embarking country. Thus, this paper aims to assess the lessons that have been and can be learned by Indonesia from the nuclear accident. This study applies an analytical, descriptive and qualitative methodology using secondary data. In the first step, the important aspects of safety in the accident were identified applying the IAEA general safety requirement standards. The next step is the identification of relevant topics for each of these aspects in order to detail the lessons learned through an analysis of existing laws and regulations and international standards. This paper concludes that Indonesia has learned the lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident in the aspects of international agreements, regulatory principles, and in accident prevention and mitigation. However, Indonesia still needs significant upgrading in the aspect’s leadership for safety and improvements in all these aspects. If a national decision has been made to build nuclear power plant, then these upgrading and improvements must be made to prevent a large-scale nuclear accident as happened at the Fukushima nuclear power plants.