Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to build a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to meet the electricity needs in Indonesia. The Secretary-General of the National Energy Council (DEN), Djoko Siswanto, revealed that the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are currently conducting a study on nuclear energy regulations.
He said that regulations related to nuclear energy will be included in the Draft Government Regulation on National Energy Policy (RPP KEN) and the Draft Law on New and Renewable Energy (RUU EBET) which have already been discussed in the DPR and will be issued soon. “In the RPP KEN, the target is by 2032.” Well, currently all parties involved in the preparations for nuclear development are working. Related to its studies and so on. The target is initially 250 megawatts, and this can be doubled,” he said at the JCC Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/12/2024).
Djoko also mentioned that his team has received the selection of safe locations for building nuclear power plants (NPP) by BRIN. “Well, several site study locations, both in Bangka Belitung and also in Kalimantan, and in other places by BRIN, have been reported to DEN,” he said.
Meanwhile, a member of the National Energy Council (DEN) from the Academic Stakeholder Group, Agus Puji Prasetyono, revealed that DEN has mapped 29 potential locations for building nuclear power plants (NPPs). “There are around 29 potential locations for us to build nuclear energy, which will total 45-54 gigawatts (GW),” said Agus. Agus explained that from these 29 potential locations, they have set three criteria for considering the construction of NPPs, namely being free from tsunamis, far from volcanoes, and far from faults or earthquakes, at least 5 kilometers away.
However, Agus stated that areas with earthquake potential should not be avoided but rather solutions should be sought for building nuclear power plants. He cited Japan as an example of a country that has successfully built in earthquake-prone areas. “But how do we build nuclear power plants in earthquake-prone regions?” That’s a challenge, not something we have to move away from. Why can he? Why can’t we? Well, that’s our homework now. How to build a nuclear power plant in an earthquake-prone area,” he said.
List of 29 Potential Locations for Nuclear Power Plant Construction in Indonesia:
- Pangkalan Susu, North Sumatra
- Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra
- Batam, Riau Islands
- Bintan, Riau Islands
- West Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands
- Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands
- South Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands
- Bojanegara, Banten
- Muria, Central Java
- Gerokgak, Bali
- Sambas, West Kalimantan
- Pulau Semesa, West Kalimantan
- Pantai Gosong, West Kalimantan
- Muara Pawan, West Kalimantan
- Pagarantimur, West Kalimantan
- Keramat Jaya, West Kalimantan
- Kendawangan, West Kalimantan
- Airhitam, West Kalimantan
- Kualajelai, West Kalimantan
- Sangatta, East Kalimantan
- Samboja, East Kalimantan
- Babulu Laut, East Kalimantan
- Morowali, Central Sulawesi
- Muna, Southeast Sulawesi
- Toari, Southeast Sulawesi
- Tanjung Kobul, Maluku
- Teluk Bintuni, West Papua
- Timika, Central Papua
- Merauke, South Papua
Previously, the government of President Prabowo Subianto declared a commitment to an additional 100 GW of electricity or electrification over the next 15 years. A small portion of that target will be met using nuclear energy.
This was directly stated by the Head of the Indonesian Delegation at COP 29, Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo. In his speech at COP 29, Hashim revealed Indonesia’s plan to add 100 GW of electricity, with about 75% of it to be supplied by clean energy. Of the total 75% clean energy target, around 5.3 GW will be fulfilled using nuclear power. According to him, nuclear energy is clean energy even though many doubt its sustainability. “In addition, there will be 5.3 GW from nuclear power, although it is not considered sustainable, it is clearly clean. So that is also clean energy. Besides that, there will also be gas power,” Hashim explained after delivering the National Message speech at COP 29, at the Baku Olympic Stadium, Azerbaijan.
