Support Nuclear, DPR Warns of Greater Risks than Renewable Energy

Member of Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ratna Juwita Sari, responded positively to the government's plan to develop nuclear energy as part of the national energy transition strategy. Even so, he reminded that its implementation should be carried out carefully and measured because the risks are greater than other renewable energy.

"Nuclear can indeed be one solution to meet national energy needs while reducing carbon emissions. However, its development must be carried out with full caution, transparency, and strict supervision because the risks are not small," Ratna said in a statement, Wednesday, February 18.

The PKB legislator from the East Java IX District emphasized that safety aspects, technological readiness, human resource capacity, and public acceptance must be the main priority before the project is carried out massively.

In addition, Ratna also reminded that the plan to develop nuclear power plants (PLTN) did not make the government set aside other renewable energy projects that were already underway.

"Don't let it be because of the focus on nuclear, other environmentally friendly energy projects that have been planned and even absorb large budgets are ignored," he said.

"The bioethanol plant, for example, must remain a priority and be realized immediately," added the Secretary of the PKB DPP for Natural Resources.

According to Ratna, the sustainability of renewable energy projects such as bioethanol is important to maintain the consistency of national energy policies while providing certainty to investors and the public.

He added that, in principle, nuclear energy is a low-emission energy source and relatively environmentally friendly compared to fossil energy. However, the governance and management of its development must be really solid.

"Its position, technology, and management of development must be really good. Because compared to other energy sources, nuclear has a big risk if it is not managed professionally and disciplined," he said.

Previously, the Director General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Eniya Listiani Dewi, said that in the initial phase the government targeted the construction of a 500 megawatt nuclear power plant.

"On-grid is 2032. So entering the grid in 2032 is the fastest. Well, from the ESDM Ministry's YouTube Podcast Bukan Abuleke, Eniya said, Sunday, February 15.

Eniya also reported on the progress in the formation of the Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO). According to him, the regulation on the formation of NEPIO is currently awaiting the President's signature.

"The Presidential Decree is now on the President's desk. Just wait for it to come down," Eniya said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office not long ago.

After the Presidential Regulation is issued, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will draft implementing regulations in the form of a Ministerial Decree (Kepmen). In the Kepmen, six working groups (pokja) with different tasks will be formed, ranging from determining locations, licensing, to financing nuclear programs.

The government targets that the planning and regulation stages can run in parallel so that the operational target of the nuclear power plant in 2032 can be achieved according to schedule.