{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1822964,
        "msgid": "time-for-indonesia-to-look-at-nuclear-power-1782366727",
        "date": "2026-06-25 11:55:17",
        "title": "Time for Indonesia to Look at Nuclear Power",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Energy",
        "summary": "As Indonesia pursues its net-zero emission target by 2060, the country must overcome its deep-seated stigma against nuclear energy and begin serious discussions on its adoption. The article argues that modern fourth-generation reactors offer vastly improved passive safety features, while providing reliable, carbon-free baseload power that intermittent renewables cannot match. With over 450 reactors operating globally and decades of safety lessons learned, the author contends that ignoring nuclear power would make Indonesia's clean energy transition significantly harder.",
        "content": "<p>Whenever the word nuclear is mentioned, what usually comes to mind is\nthe atomic bomb or the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters. It is natural\nto feel fear, but the facts on the ground show that the world has been\nusing nuclear power for decades and many developed countries rely on it.\nThe first commercial Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) began operating on 20\nDecember 1951 in Idaho, United States. Currently, there are around 450\nlicensed PLTNs operating in 30 countries, with an additional 48 units\nunder construction. The world\u2019s largest PLTN is the TEPCO\nKashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Japan with a capacity of 7,965 GW, whilst\nglobally PLTNs contribute about 10 per cent of the world\u2019s total\nelectricity needs. These figures demonstrate that the world has long\nutilised nuclear power. It is not without risk, but neither is it\nwithout experience and learning. Every accident, such as Chernobyl\n(1986) and Fukushima (2011), has provided valuable lessons that have led\nto continuously improved safety standards through reactor design\nenhancements and strengthened safety systems. Nuclear technology has now\nentered its fourth generation, with designs that are far safer, more\nefficient, and more flexible than previous generations. Nuclear energy\nis produced from reactions between particles in the atomic nucleus and\nhas been harnessed by scientists since the early 19th century. It offers\na number of advantages that cannot simply be ignored. Firstly, it\nproduces no greenhouse gas emissions during normal operation. Secondly,\nit does not pollute the air like coal-fired power plants. Thirdly, the\nsolid waste produced is relatively small in volume. Fourthly, fuel costs\nare low. Fifthly, the availability of fuels such as uranium and\nplutonium remains abundant. However, the challenges of nuclear energy\nremain the risk of accidents and nuclear waste. Nuclear energy is a\nclean energy source and also has advantages over sources like\nhydroelectric and solar power, as it does not depend on weather or time\nof day. Solar power plants only operate optimally during daylight hours,\nwhilst wind power plants only generate electricity when the wind blows.\nNuclear power, on the other hand, can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a\nweek, all year round. This is the comparative advantage that makes\nnuclear power a mainstay for many developed countries such as the US,\nFrance, Japan, China, Russia, and South Korea. Unfortunately, in\nIndonesia, discussions about nuclear power are still hampered by a\nstrong negative stigma. The moment the word nuclear is mentioned, what\ncomes to mind is the atomic bomb, deadly radiation, or power plant\ndisasters. Yet nuclear technology has advanced rapidly.\nFourth-generation reactors are designed with passive safety principles,\nmeaning that even without human intervention or external power supply,\nthe reactor will shut itself down automatically if a disturbance occurs.\nDeveloped countries did not stop using nuclear power because of\nChernobyl or Fukushima. They learned from each incident and then\nimproved their designs and safety standards. The US, France, Japan,\nChina, Russia, and South Korea continue to operate their PLTNs, with\nChina and Russia even building new ones. What needs to be improved in\nIndonesia is the willingness to open our eyes and start a discussion not\nbased solely on fear. So far, every time the topic of nuclear power\narises, the reaction is always the same: outright rejection without\nin-depth study. Yet the 2060 net-zero emission target is not a light\nundertaking. Without nuclear power, that target will be far more\ndifficult to achieve. This does not mean Indonesia must build a PLTN\ntomorrow, but at the very least, serious discussions must begin. Conduct\nin-depth studies involving all stakeholders: government, academia,\nindustry, and the public. Carry out honest and transparent public\neducation about the potential as well as the risks of nuclear power,\nbecause fear is often born from ignorance. Nuclear technology is proven\nand the world has been operating it for decades. Indonesia also has\nbasic experience through three non-power reactors (Kartini, Triga, and\nGA Siwabessy) already operating for research, health, food, and\nagriculture. It is time for Indonesia to look at nuclear power, because\nachieving maximum clean energy targets requires all available options,\nand nuclear power is one reliable option that would be a shame to pass\nup.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-for-indonesia-to-look-at-nuclear-power-1782366727",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}