Indonesia's 2032 Nuclear Energy Target: Is it Feasible?
Indonesia’s 2032 Nuclear Energy Target: Is it Feasible?
“Several of the regulations have been prepared. Our plan is for construction to be completed by 2032,” said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia in May last year. This statement signals that Indonesia is preparing to enter the era of nuclear power plants (PLTN).
Indonesia is not new to nuclear technology. The vision to develop nuclear energy has existed since the early 1960s. This began with the construction of three research reactors: the Triga Reactor in Bandung (2 MW), the Kartini Reactor in Yogyakarta (100 kW), and the Serpong Reactor in South Tangerang (30 MW). During the Cold War, amidst the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, Indonesia chose to utilize it as a source of future energy.
After years of on-again, off-again discussions about PLTN construction, the plan is now included in the State Electricity Company’s (PLN) 2025-2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). The RUPTL includes a plan to build a 500 MW PLTN, targeted to be operational in 2032 and 2033.
According to the RUPTL document, surveys and site studies for the PLTN have been conducted by BATAN/BRIN, considering seismic conditions, peak ground acceleration (PGA), volcanic hazards, and surface faults. The results indicate that there are 28 potential sites for PLTN construction with a capacity of up to 70 GW. In the initial phase, construction is planned in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“Based on these potential sites, and referring to the needs of the national electricity system, the initial phase of PLTN is planned to be built in the Sumatra and Kalimantan systems,” the document states.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Yuliot Tanjung, in October 2025, explained that the development of PLTN is one of the government’s efforts to strengthen its commitment to Net Zero Emission by 2060. In the effort to transition to a sustainable energy future, PLTN is seen as one of the strategic options that can play an important role in supporting national energy security.
Yuliot explained that the development of nuclear energy in Indonesia has a strong legal basis, including Government Regulation (PP) Number 40 of 2025 concerning National Energy Policy. This regulation sets the proportion of nuclear energy in the primary energy mix at 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent in 2032, increasing to 2.8 percent to 3.4 percent in 2040, and further to 6.8 percent to 7.0 percent in 2050. In 2060, the proportion will be between 11.7 percent and 12.1 percent of the total primary energy mix.
“In PP Number 45 of 2025, PLTN is no longer considered a last resort, but as an important part of national energy planning,” said Yuliot, as quoted on the official website of the Ministry of ESDM.
The Head of the Nuclear Energy Research Organization (ORTN) of BRIN, Syaiful Bakhri, said that the target for PLTN operation in 2032 depends on many factors, ranging from the chosen technology, vendor readiness, site selection, to coordination between government agencies and state-owned enterprises.
“If we at BRIN, we will first look at the technology that can be deployed in 2032,” said Syaiful when contacted on Tuesday (May 12). According to him, Indonesia needs to develop PLTN for a stable and reliable supply of clean energy. Syaiful explained that Indonesia has the potential for uranium and thorium (nuclear power plant fuel) in about 10 regions to support PLTN operations. These include Aceh, North Sumatra, Lampung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and Mamuju.
“Meanwhile, for our total resources, the potential is about 89,000 tons of uranium, 89,480 tons of uranium. Then for thorium, it is about 143,230 tons,” he said.
Ambitious but Not Impossible
A Senior BRIN Researcher and former Head of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto, said that the 2032 PLTN target can be considered ambitious, but not impossible. From BRIN’s perspective, he said, the most relevant support is strengthening the technical base, including research on safety, site studies, readiness of human resources, support for the selection of PLTN technology, management of radioactive waste, and experience in operating nuclear research facilities.
“BRIN is not the owner of the PLTN commercial project, but it can be a scientific and technical supporter so that government decisions are based on data, safety, and international standards,” he said. According to him, in order for the 2032 target to be realistic, the government must immediately ensure several things, including the implementing agency for the PLTN program, technology decisions, funding schemes, regulatory readiness, site readiness, PLN support, and public acceptance.
“Without major decisions in the next 1-2 years, the 2032 target will become increasingly difficult,” said Djarot. Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Gadjah Mada University, Deendarlianto, believes that the target for PLTN operation in 2032 is realistic if the construction process begins this year.
“In building a nuclear reactor, there is a construction period, there is a phase called licensing, and if based on calculations and international experience, it takes 6 to 7 years. So, if it’s 2026 now, it’s time to start,” said Deendarlianto. In February 2025, the Ministry of ESDM confirmed that the PLTN development project has entered the first phase. The Director General of New, Renewable, and Conservation Energy (EBTKE) of the Ministry of ESDM, Eniya Listiani Dewi, said that the PLTN operation plan has been included in the Draft Government Regulation on National Energy Policy (RPP KEN) and the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUKN).
“The current phase of PLTN infrastructure development is indeed in the first phase, namely consideration towards determination,” said Eniya at the Meeting Room of Commission XII of the DPR RI, Tuesday (February 18). Eniya explained that this first phase was established based on guidelines from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To move to the next stage,