Blast stems from by gas explosion, not nuclear test

9/11/2007

JAKARTA : A blast that occurred at the Center of Sciences and Technology in the National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday stemmed from a gas explosion in a biofuel experiment, a team revealed Tuesday.

The National Police's Laboratory and Forensic Team said that Monday's blast which had injured six people was not triggered by a nuclear test at BATAN, Metro TV station reported.

"There is no nuclear fallout," an official with the atomic center said.

The station estimated the blast could inflict losses of more than Rp 3.1 billion (US$344,400) on the agency.