A stock image shows the central control room of an unidentified nuclear power plant. (Photo: Shutterstock/ muph) Rohadi Awaludin, head of nuclear research at theNational Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said the National EnergyCouncil (DEN) is preparing to establish the Nuclear Energy ProgrammeImplementation Organization (NEPIO) to improve the investment climate fordeveloping nuclear power plants in Indonesia.
Indonesia had uranium andthorium reserves of around 90,000 tonnes and 140,000 tonnes, respectively,Rohadi said, which was sufficient to power 10 nuclear power plants with acapacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) each for 30 years.
But he admitted that processing the raw materialsto power the plants would be difficult.
Rohadi expressed his hopethat the endorsement of the newly signed Government Regulation (PP) No. 52/2022on safe and secure mining of nuclear materials will encourage relevant partiesto jump-start this process in Indonesia.
Haendra Subekti, director of nuclearinstallation and materials policy at the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency(Bapeten), said that countries with advanced nuclear programmes such as the US,Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Denmark, have all shown interest indeveloping nuclear power projects in Indonesia.
He said that over thelast two years, “a few foreign companies” have shown interest in developingSmall Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, renewables director general DadanKusdiana of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said building nuclearpower plants would help Indonesia reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060,adding that the plants would be more profitable due to global technologicaladvancements./.
VNA
