Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Special Envoy of the President for Climate and Energy, said that the government will soon carry out the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, citing a number of foreign nuclear companies have offered nuclear construction proposals to Indonesia.

Hashim said the development of nuclear energy takes a long time. As an example, China offers a proposal to build a nuclear power plant (PLTN) for a minimum of 140 months (12 years).

In addition to China, a number of countries have also submitted proposals, such as Russia and the United States. In the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), it is stipulated that Indonesia's nuclear power plant capacity is targeted to reach 4.3 Gigawatts (GW).

Hashim, however, declined to announce the location for the nuclear power plant construction at this time.

"The location has not been determined and has not been announced, because you know that land prices can rapidly increase," he said, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Power wheeling rejection

Hashim said President Prabowo Subianto rejected the power wheeling concept that is being discussed in the formulation of the New Renewable Energy Bill (RUU EBET). He said the power wheeling concept will never be implemented as long as Prabowo is President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Power wheeling is a scheme that allows private parties to sell electricity directly to the public through the transmission network, state power utility company PLN. This scheme is also known as shared utilization of the electricity network.

Hashim said the government still believes there must be State control on electricity in Indonesia. PLN's role as the holder of control of electricity resources must be maintained.

The power wheeling scheme allows foreign parties to control Indonesia's electricity resources. Although, it is open to foreign investors. However, this does not apply to electricity resources.

"If it is opened, this power wheeling could become the wild west, and our electricity sector would be dominated by non-Indonesian parties," he said.

Hashim said further that Prabowo believes the state must remain the controller of electricity in Indonesia and that PLN is an instrument of the state.

"So sorry, power wheeling is rejected. Still the state through PLN is the controller of electricity, and I am optimistic that many want to invest in new renewable energy in Indonesia," he said.