Assessing the Risks to Nuclear Safety: Case Study of Institutional Transformation and Governance Challenges in Indonesia’s Research Agency Reform

Yarianto Sugeng Budi Susilo; Muhammad Budi Setiawan; Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto; Rr. Arum Puni Rijanti; Suparman .; Ferly Hermana; Totti Tjiptosumirat; Anik Purwaningsih; Jaja Sukmana; Riyan Mahendra Saputra; Dini Anggraeni; Nugraha Luhur; Kurnia Setiawan Widana

doi:10.63332/joph.v6i3.4070

Authors

Yarianto Sugeng Budi Susilo Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Muhammad Budi Setiawan Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto Research Center for Nuclear Material and Radioactive Waste Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Rr. Arum Puni Rijanti Directorate of Policy Formulation of Research, Technology and Innovation, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Suparman . Directorate of Environmental, Maritime, Natural Resources, and Nuclear Policy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Ferly Hermana Research Center for Nuclear Beam Analysis Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Totti Tjiptosumirat Research Center for Radiation Process Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Anik Purwaningsih Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Jaja Sukmana Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Riyan Mahendra Saputra Directorate of Policy Formulation of Research, Technology and Innovation, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Dini Anggraeni Directorate of Policy Formulation of Research, Technology and Innovation, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Nugraha Luhur Directorate for Nuclear Facility Management, Deputy for Research and Innovation Infrastructure, National Research and Innovation Agency. Indonesia
Kurnia Setiawan Widana Research Center for Nuclear Material and Radioactive Waste Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63332/joph.v6i3.4070

Keywords:

Institutional Restructuring, Nuclear Safety, High Reliability Organizations, institutional isomorphism, Public Sector Reform

Abstract

This study explores the restructuring of Indonesia’s National Nuclear Energy Agency into the National Research and Innovation Agency, merging it with non-nuclear bodies. Using surveys, interviews, and field surveys, the research finds weakened nuclear sector leadership, poor safety protocol enforcement, and institutional conflicts that compromise nuclear safety. The integration risks diluting specialized expertise in favor of broad innovation agendas. The Indonesian case highlights the dangers of bureaucratic consolidation in high-risk organization. The study offers policy recommendations to strengthen nuclear safety governance through better institutional design, leadership accountability, and safety-oriented organizational culture in public high-risk research institutions.