Rosatom Continues to Explore Potential for Floating Nuclear Power Plants in Indonesia
The Russian nuclear industry giant, Rosatom, is continuing its efforts to reach concrete agreements regarding plans to build floating nuclear power plants (NPP) in Indonesia.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated that deploying nuclear reactors on ships or barges is a relevant and efficient solution for Indonesia compared to constructing conventional land-based power plant infrastructure. According to Likhachev, in an interview transcript from the Russian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, Indonesia and other ASEAN nations possess geographical characteristics dominated by archipelagos and long coastlines.
“To date, Russia remains the only country in the world operating a commercial floating NPP, the Akademik Lomonosov, since 2020,” he said.
Rosatom’s efforts to explore cooperation with Indonesia are a follow-up to the Indonesian Government’s interest in utilising nuclear technology for the energy transition. “Indonesia has shown great interest in nuclear technology. At the invitation of President (Prabowo) Subianto, a Rosatom delegation visited Indonesia several weeks ago,” Likhachev said on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Kazan, Russia.
He noted that the primary focus of discussions between Rosatom and President Prabowo centred on the construction of floating nuclear reactors, involving Indonesian business players to support technology localisation.
ASEAN is projected to absorb up to 25 per cent of global electricity consumption growth over the next 10 years. To strengthen its position in the regional market, Rosatom is also continuing to explore strategic partnerships with several other ASEAN member states.
In Vietnam, Russia is accelerating the work on two power plant units based on the Leningrad design, as well as a Nuclear Science and Technology Centre. Rosatom also recently signed an inter-governmental agreement with Laos regarding small-capacity land-based nuclear solutions and has finalised the initial regulatory framework for the procurement of floating NPPs with the Philippines.
As evidence of its track record in tropical climates, he referred to the success of a 1,200 MW NPP project in Bangladesh, which is currently in the operational commissioning stage.
Furthermore, Likhachev emphasised that Russia’s commitment to partnership cooperation with Southeast Asian nations is not limited solely to the provision of electricity supplies. “With all ASEAN countries, we have personnel training projects and cooperation in scientific research. We are also encouraging cooperation in digital competence, advanced materials, additive manufacturing technology, and nuclear medicine,” Likhachev stated.