State-owned power utility company PT PLN has approved a proposal from the Russian nuclear giant State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom to build Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant.

The government is expediting the development of nuclear energy, with the facility projected to be operational by either 2030 or 2032. This marks a historic milestone as the country moves to adopt nuclear power as a new source of clean and sustainable electricity.

Zainal Arifin, Executive Vice President for Renewable Energy at PLN, said the decision to greenlight Rosatom’s proposal came after the company offered a highly competitive cost for the construction.

"Interesting. It can compete with base load, even with geothermal − it's attractive," Zainal said on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Rosatom initially submitted its proposal back in 2019, but progress had been stalled until now. Zainal noted that Rosatom’s technology stands out compared to that of a U.S.-based nuclear firm, particularly in terms of scale and sophistication.

"We have evaluated it as one of the most promising. But when compared with American technology, which is small-scale, Rosatom is more advanced," he said.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the draft of the 2025–2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) is nearing completion and will soon be submitted to President Prabowo Subianto. A nuclear power plant is included in the plan.

"For the nuclear power plant, we’re starting in 2030 or 2032. So, like it or not, we have to prepare all the regulations related to nuclear power," Bahlil said on Monday, April 21, 2025.

He emphasized that nuclear energy offers a cost-effective solution and can significantly strengthen Indonesia’s national power grid. Furthermore, it presents an opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based electricity.

However, Bahlil also highlighted the importance of public education and outreach. He stressed that introducing nuclear power must go hand-in-hand with widespread public awareness efforts to ensure the technology is properly understood and accepted.