Deputy Minister of Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, has revealed that nuclear-based energy is still difficult to develop in Indonesia amid the unavailability of nuclear technology ecosystem.
“The problem is that nuclear is often thought to be something easy. But the ecosystem is not yet available here. This is what we have to start. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas to plan for its establishment,” Febrian said a statement as quoted on Monday, February 10, 2025.
Bappenas has considered building a Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) as part of Indonesia’s long-term energy transition strategy. In a meeting with the Nuclear Energy Research Organization of the National Research and Innovation Agency (ORTN-BRIN) and PT Industri Nuklir Indonesia on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Bappenas emphasized that PLTN can be a sustainable clean energy solution.
Currently, the use of nuclear power in Indonesia is still limited to the health, food, and agriculture sectors. On the other hand, Indonesia is committed to achieving Net Zero Emission by 2060, so a cleaner and more sustainable energy source is needed. Nuclear power is considered to have great potential to be developed with massive capacity in a relatively short time.
According to Febrian, the development of PLTN in Indonesia still faces three main challenges, namely National position in nuclear development, Organizational and institutional readiness, and Stakeholders mapping.
As an initial step, Bappenas will set up a working group tasked with revising various institutional aspects related to the nuclear power plant. This group will also prepare a letter of recommendation to President Prabowo Subianto as a basis for policy making.
Febrian emphasized that this momentum must be utilized well so that the nuclear power plant development plan does not just end in discourse.
“We must not go beyond our limits in planning. Because this is the moment, it cannot be repeated. If we miss it, we will continue to be trapped in discussions like this without real action,” he said.
As Draft Government Regulation on National Energy Policy and Draft Law on New and Renewable Energy are being deliberated in the House of Representatives (DPR),the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)has completed site studies for the construction of a PLTN to National Energy Council (DEN).
Secretary General of DEN, Djoko Siswanto, revealed that BRIN has submitted results of the studies, recommending several potential locations for the nuclear power plant, including Bangka Belitung and Kalimantan.
“Site studies have been conducted in various locations that are considered safe and strategic. The results will be the basis for determining the location for the construction of the first nuclear power plant,” Djoko said on December 10, 2024.
Head of the Nuclear Energy Research Organization (ORTN) at BRIN, Syaiful Bakhri, said the organization is ready to support the construction of the first PLTN in Indonesia. This project is expected to be an important step towards national energy self-sufficiency.
“The government has planned establishment of the first nuclear power plant in 2032 with a capacity of 250-300 MW. The technology chosen is the small modular reactor (SMR),” Syaiful said.
