November 25, 2025 | 12:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s task force on Cesium-137 radiation hazards has decided on follow-up measures after two containers of exported footwear were found contaminated with the radioactive substance.
Bara Krishna Hasibuan, Head of Diplomacy and Communication for the Cesium-137 Task Force, said the government and the manufacturer had agreed to dispose of the affected products.
He emphasized that the decision reflects the government’s determination to contain the impact of Cesium-137 contamination in the country.
The case surfaced earlier this month when U.S. authorities returned two containers of Indonesian-made footwear after detecting traces of Cesium-137. The incident added to concerns over radiation-linked contamination in export goods, following earlier cases involving seafood shipments.
“We received further information confirming the presence of Cs-137 in footwear products exported to the U.S.,” Bara said in a statement on November 12.
The footwear originated from a factory in Cikande, Serang, Banten, located just outside the district’s main industrial zone but within several kilometers of major manufacturing facilities.
The broader area has drawn scrutiny since PT Peter Metal Technology, a steel smelting company in the Cikande industrial estate, was identified as the source of Cs-137 contamination found in shrimp exported by PT Bahari Makmur Sejahtera (BMS).
Bara said the two returned containers reached Indonesia at different times, with the first arriving around September.
The second arrived on October 29 with an official notification of radioactive contamination. Bapeten, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency, inspected the shipment on October 30 and found no contamination on the container’s surface, meaning it was safe for temporary storage at the port.
The footwear inside was then sent to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) for laboratory testing.
After reviewing the findings, the task force coordinated with the manufacturer and agreed that the contaminated products must be destroyed to prevent any risk to public health or the environment.
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