TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Unit for Handling Radiation Hazard Vulnerability of Cs-137 (Cesium-137) is currently working on decontaminating radioactive materials in six locations spread across Cikande, Serang, and Banten in West Java. This cleanup is still related to the discovery of Cs-137-contaminated shrimp exported to the United States last August.
The head of the task unit, who is also the Indonesian Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, is personally leading the decontamination process and the transfer of materials contaminated with radioactive substances. The anticipated source of radiation is 700 kilograms of scrap metal stored in an iron storage area in Desa Barengkok. The hazardous goods are being transported to a temporary storage area in the Modern Industrial Area of Cikande.
"The government has formed a special team to handle this, and starting today, the decontamination process will be carried out gradually,” Hanif said in a written statement on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.