The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) is preparing 28\nsites for nuclear power plant projects in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Site preparations are being carried out in line with the target for\nnuclear power plants to begin operating under the 2025\u20132034 Electricity\nSupply Business Plan (RUPTL).<\/p>\n
Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yuliot Tanjung said the\ngovernment was discussing national nuclear energy planning with\nstate-owned electricity company PT PLN (Persero). He stressed that sites\nmust be prepared early because power plant construction takes a long\ntime.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 28 sites that were prepared some time ago, and there are\nseveral additional sites that we will soon [prepare]. Some of those\npreviously considered were floating sites,\u201d Yuliot said at the Energy\nMinistry office in Jakarta on Thursday, 22 October 2026.<\/p>\n
The government aims for Indonesia to have at least 500 megawatts (MW)\nof nuclear power connected to the electricity grid by 2032\u20132034.\nPreparing sites now is considered important because nuclear power plant\nconstruction takes between seven and 10 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we do not start consolidating and planning, our RUPTL target is\nto have at least 500 MW on-grid by 2032\u20132034. Since there is a target\ndate, we need to prepare now: nuclear power plants take seven to 10\nyears to build. If the target is 2034, we must start preparing the sites\nnow,\u201d Yuliot said.<\/p>\n
He said large-scale electricity needs in some regions could not be\nmet by relying solely on new and renewable energy. Nuclear power plants\nwould be needed to provide stable and continuous electricity at a large\ncapacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some areas, the electricity system has significant potential\ndemand that cannot be met only by new and renewable energy. We also need\nto develop substantial electricity capacity, including supply from\nnuclear power plants. In many countries, such as France, nuclear power\nprovides the largest share of electricity\u2014nearly 70%,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Previously, to support nuclear power plant development planning, the\ngovernment, through BATAN and the National Research and Innovation\nAgency (BRIN), conducted site surveys in various regions. The\nassessments considered seismic conditions, peak ground acceleration\n(PGA), volcanic hazards and surface faulting.<\/p>\n
All 28 surveyed areas were deemed to have potential for nuclear power\nplants, with a combined development capacity estimated at up to 70\ngigawatts (GW).<\/p>\n
Based on these potential areas and national electricity system\nrequirements, the initial phase of nuclear power development is planned\nfor the Sumatra and Kalimantan power systems.<\/p>\n
Indonesia plans to build nuclear power plants with a total capacity\nof up to 7 GW by 2040. The plan is included in a draft of the RUPTL\nthrough 2040.<\/p>\n
Darmawan Prasodjo, who was PLN president director at the time, said\nthe current 2025\u20132034 RUPTL officially includes a 500 MW nuclear power\nplant, using small modular reactor (SMR) technology.<\/p>\n
The draft RUPTL through 2040, meanwhile, proposes nuclear power\ncapacity of up to 7 GW\u2014an additional 6.5 GW over five years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 500 MW in the RUPTL is only the first phase. The RUPTL currently\nbeing discussed, which runs through 2040, could bring the total to\naround 7 GW,\u201d Darmawan said at a hearing with Commission XII of the\nHouse of Representatives in Jakarta in late August 2025.<\/p>\n
PLN has called for stronger legal provisions to support domestic\nnuclear power plant development, particularly through a planned revision\nof Law No.\u00a030 of 2009 on Electricity.<\/p>\n
The company has also stressed the importance of building transmission\nnetworks to deliver electricity generated by nuclear power plants. PLN\nsays it needs government support, particularly financial assistance.<\/p>\n
Darmawan said transmission network development would require\nsubstantial investment, while returns in Indonesia were relatively\nlow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe required funding is around Rp434 trillion. The rate of return is\nonly around 2\u20134%, while the current average cost of funds is about 8%,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-prepares-28-sites-for-nuclear-power-plant-projects-1792680670", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }