The first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Indonesia is expected to soon be constructed in the Bangka Belitung Islands province by PT ThorCon Power Indonesia with a value of Rp17 trillion (US$1 billion).
Starting in November 2024, ThorCon will cut the first steel from a South Korean shipyard. This nuclear power plant is believed to be the first nuclear power plant in Indonesia if development can be realized.
This nuclear power plant will have a capacity of 500 MW with the raw material used, namely, thorium, which at the beginning of the energy production process will be obtained through imports as a whole.
“All fuel must be imported first. But at a later date the fuel factory will be built,” said Bob S. Effendi, Chief Operating Officer of PT ThorCon Power Indonesia said in an interview with CNBC Indonesia on April 30, 2024..
According to Bob, the first nuclear power plant unit will arrive in Indonesia in 2027, and it is hoped that the operating permit from the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (BAPETEN) will be obtained soon in 2029.
“Commercial operation target in 2030. First steel cutting at South Korean shipyard in November 2024. NPP unit to location in 2027, BAPETEN operating permit target in 2029,” he said.
Currently, ThorCon and BAPETEN are discussing further timeline targets for the nuclear power plant development process.
Bob expressed his optimism regarding the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Indonesia. The project needs the support from the government for legal certainty through a Presidential Regulation (Perpres).
Through this regulation, it is believed that it can provide guarantees and legal status for nuclear power plants and attract investors to invest in this project. Apart from that, it also provides new incentives from banking funding for NPPs.
Basically, the business permit for building nuclear power plants in Indonesia is stipulated in the provisions of Government Regulation (PP) No. 5/2021 on the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing, which mentions nuclear installations.
However, ThorCon is still waiting for President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo’s approval through a Presidential Decree as a legal umbrella for the construction of a thorium-based nuclear power plant in Indonesia.
On the other hand, there is actually no need to wait for the creation and ratification of the New Energy and Renewable Energy Bill (RUU) because there are already regulations covering the construction of nuclear power plants in PP No. 5/2021.
There were three potential development areas for the NPP, however only Bangka Belitung Islands province that had given positive response to the nuclear power plant development plan.
