ESDM to Open Nuclear Power Plant Tender After Selecting Development Sites

“The sites have to be designated first. Once they have been selected, PLN will hold a tender for the project’s implementation.”

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) says it will soon open a tender for the development of nuclear power plants (PLTN) after their construction sites have been designated.

Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yuliot made the remarks at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Thursday.

Yuliot said 28 potential sites had been prepared previously, and that several more would be added.

He said some regions have substantial electricity needs to maintain the reliability of their power systems, which cannot be met by relying solely on renewable energy. Nuclear power plants could provide significant generating capacity, he said, pointing to France, where most electricity comes from nuclear power.

“South Korea, for example, learned about nuclear power plant development from Indonesia in its early days, because Indonesia had a research reactor. That was in 1962,” Yuliot said.

South Korea has since become a nuclear power plant technology vendor. Other ASEAN countries are also beginning to develop nuclear power plants: Timor-Leste has drawn up plans, Vietnam has begun construction, and Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are also pursuing development.

“We have a target date, so we need to start preparing now. Building a nuclear power plant takes seven to ten years. If the target is 2034, then we need to prepare the sites from now,” Yuliot said.

Presidential Special Envoy for Climate and Energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo has said Indonesia will build nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 7 gigawatts (GW) to achieve energy security.

Hashim also said Indonesia has an ambitious target to develop solar power plants with a capacity of 100 gigawatt-peak (GWp). The initiatives, he said, are part of the government’s efforts to ensure a reliable energy supply for Indonesians.