October 1, 2025 | 10:37 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is keeping the United States (US) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continuously updated on the case involving Indonesian shrimp contaminated with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Zulkifli Hasan.
"The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) also communicates everything we have done," Zulkifli said after leading a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
The Minister, who also serves as the Head of the Task Force for Handling the Hazards of Radioactive Cesium-137, asserted that the entire handling process has been conducted transparently, accountably, and in accordance with international standards.
Beyond communication, the government and the Task Force are also closely monitoring the affected area and providing protection for workers and residents near the Cikande industrial area in Serang, Banten Regency.
Out of more than 1,500 people examined around the Cikande industrial area, Zulkifli stated that only nine individuals were identified as exposed, and all have been treated by the Ministry of Health. These measures are critical for maintaining global trust in the quality and safety of Indonesian fisheries products, particularly the national shrimp industry.
Contamination Source and Product Repatriation
The contamination was initially discovered in frozen shrimp products from an Indonesian company that had been exported to the US. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that the frozen shrimp products contained Cs−137.
Bara Khrishna Hasibuan, an Expert Staff member for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment, revealed that the initial investigation concluded the contamination originated from the steel factory, PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), located in the Cikande industrial area. This factory produces iron using scrap or used iron as a raw material.
It is suspected that the contamination was carried through the air to the shrimp packaging facility, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS), which is less than two kilometers from PT PMT.
Bara also clarified the status of Indonesian shrimp products that had already arrived in the US. He disclosed that some products have been collected and returned to Indonesia, while the remainder is still being processed for repatriation.
Several hundred containers were en route to the US when the incident occurred. As a result, these containers were rejected and had to be turned back. Currently, 26 containers have returned, and 18 of them are being stored at the Indonesian Quarantine Agency facility at Tanjung Priok Port for examination by BRIN.
The BRIN examination results showed that the 18 containers did contain radioactive Cs−137, but at very low levels, even less than 1 becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg). Becquerel (Bq) is the unit used to measure radioactivity. For reference, Indonesia's established threshold is 500 Bq, while the FDA standard in the US is 1,200 Bq.
Editor's Choice: Indonesian Govt Confirms 18 Containers of Exported Shrimp Not Radioactive
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