A special task force under the Coordinating Food Ministry has been actively removing radioactive scrap metal from 10 contaminated storage sites in the Cikande Industrial Estate, Serang, Banten. The material is being transferred to an interim facility within the area for safer handling and storage.
Authorities believe the contamination primarily spread through airborne dust generated during the scrap metal melting process at a smelting plant located near a factory owned by a large shrimp producer.
“We are conducting a comprehensive inspection that is still ongoing,” ministry special staffer Bara Khrisna Hasibuan told The Jakarta Post on Friday. So far, material from two sites has been removed, and the transfer from other locations to the interim facility before final disposal is still in progress.
The decontamination efforts are being carried out in close coordination with several government entities, including the Environment Ministry, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the National Police.
The investigation into the contamination began in August after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia. This discovery garnered international attention, particularly concerning the affected area.
In response, the FDA announced new import certification requirements for Indonesian shrimp and spices, which will take effect on October 31, 2025. Companies identified with radioactive contamination must provide third-party verification or certification by designated Indonesian authorities for each shipment before exports are allowed.
These measures aim to ensure food safety and restore confidence in Indonesian seafood products on the global market.
https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2025/10/06/govt-rushes-to-clean-up-cesium-137-spill-in-banten.html