Regarding Thorcon's Plan To Build The First PLTN In Indonesia, Member Of Commission VII Says There Has Been No Discussion

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VII DPR RI, Mulyanto responded to the plan of a private power generation company (IPP) from the United States (US), namely PT ThorCon Power Indonesia to build the first Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) in Indonesia.

Mulyanto emphasized that until now there has been no discussion with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regarding the PLTN development plan.

According to him, in several working meetings the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources or the Director General of Electricity did not report any plans for the construction of PLTN in the near future.

"It's limited that I know that until now there has been no PLTN vendor who is really serious and is included in the process of applying for a PLTN development permit in Indonesia. It's still too early to be possible," he said in a statement received by VOI, Tuesday, October 24.

In addition, he said, PLN has not included PLTN in the General Plan for Electric Power Development (RUPTL).

"Now it seems that it is still in the planning stage, exploring partners with PLN, including its subsidiary, or private power plants (IPP)," added Mulyanto.

Mulyanto added, on the other hand, the Government must also ensure when the PLTN must already operate and be included in the PLN RUPTL.

He said the news about the development of PLTN by American companies was still unclear because the prerequisites for PLTN development itself had not yet been formed, including the establishment of a nuclear energy power implementing organization/NEPIO) for the first PLTN, as required by the IAEA.

In addition, said Mulyanto, the PLTN that will be operated is of course a well-established PLTN that has been tested, especially from its safety aspects. This is non-negotiable.

The construction of PLTN is expected to replace the role of PLTU as a generator on the base load, so the operation must be stable and the capacity must be greater than 1,000 MW per unit.

"If you look at this, the ThorCon type PLTN is outside the criteria. The IAEA includes this type of PLTN in the pre-conceptual design / conceptual design stage, even though what is needed is a proven PLTN. In addition, ThorCon's power capacity is only 250 MW, even though what we need PLTN is large-powered," he said.

Previously, it was reported that PT ThorCon Power Indonesia admitted that it was preparing to build the first Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) in Indonesia, which is targeted to start operating in 2030.

ThorCon's Chief Operating Officer, Bob S. Effendi revealed that later in November 2024, his party will start cutting the first steel to be carried out at the South Korean shipyard.

Targeted in 2027, the PLTN unit will arrive in Indonesia. The selected location is also in the Bangka Belitung Islands.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Dadan Kusdiana said that until now Thorcon itself had not actually applied for a permit regarding the construction of the PLTN.