Indonesia Seriously Explores Nuclear Development Cooperation With Various Countries

Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Dadan Kusdiana. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - The government is getting serious about working on nuclear power plants (PLTN) to be adapted in Indonesia.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Dadan Kusdiana said his party was exploring the possibility of cooperation with various foreign companies.

"We communicate not only Russia, communication with Japan, Korea, America, just open it all. Later, when the time is chosen, the best," said Dadan, quoted on Tuesday, June 18.

Dadan added, there are several requirements that must be met by Indonesia to be able to establish PLTN. So far, he said, only two requirements must be met.

"So on the terms of the existing requirements, we have 16, we only have two left if I'm not mistaken. NEPIO is going nuclear. The government needs to state that we are going nuclear. Whether there needs to be a Presidential Decree, this is not yet. The same as NEPIO. This is being discussed back and forth," explained Dadan.

Meanwhile, in terms of public revenue, Dadan said that public acceptance of nuclear has reached 60 percent.

"If I'm not mistaken, the revenue side is already above 60 percent. That was the position 4 years ago," added Dadan.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto held a meeting with JSC company Rosatom represented by First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business Kiril Komarov in Moscow, Russia.

At the meeting, the two parties held discussions regarding plans to cooperate in the development of nuclear energy for electricity and for non-energy purposes such as health and agriculture.

Airlangga said that currently Indonesia is focusing on several matters related to the issue of clean energy as part of the energy transition, and invites Russia to cooperate in the development of new and renewable energy that is being pursued by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.

Nuclear energy can be an option for the availability of electricity for the community without having to pollute the environment. Russia is also invited to cooperate in the development of new and renewable energy in Indonesia," he explained in his statement, Wednesday, June 12.

Airlangga said this was in line with the manifestation of the commitment of the Indonesian government in order to realize the energy transition process that had begun several years ago.