US Expert Says Small Modular Reactors Suitable for Indonesia

Nuclear Stakeholder Engagement Consultant from the United States, Kelle Barfield, has assessed that Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology has the potential to be a solution to support nuclear energy resilience in Indonesia, which has a vast territory and consists of thousands of islands. Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘American Leadership in Clean Nuclear Strategy’ at @america Jakarta on Tuesday, Barfield noted that Indonesia’s challenge is not only producing electricity but also ensuring energy supply reaches communities across various island regions. ‘Because of their smaller size, SMRs can be placed in more remote areas or in locations with high energy demand, such as mining areas. Thus, SMRs can support electricity needs in various parts of Indonesia more easily and flexibly,’ she said. In addition to placement flexibility, SMRs are also considered to have a shorter construction time compared to large-capacity nuclear power plants. This condition is seen as potentially accelerating the provision of electricity for regions that need additional energy supply. Barfield cited the BWRX-300 reactor project in Darlington, Canada, which is currently under construction. According to her, the project aims to begin operation within approximately three years from the start of construction. Furthermore, the expert, who is involved in capacity building through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), conveyed that the United States continues to support Indonesia’s nuclear capacity development through various cooperation programmes, including technical assistance in technology selection, human resource development, and infrastructure readiness studies. Barfield said this support is provided through the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme, which helps partner countries determine the type of SMR technology most suitable for their national needs. ‘The United States has several programmes that can support Indonesia. One of them is the FIRST programme, which focuses on building foundational infrastructure for the safe and responsible use of SMR technology,’ she stated. She further assessed that cooperation between Indonesia and the United States in the nuclear sector has the potential to grow along with increasing interest in SMR technology as a low-emission electricity source to support economic growth and energy security. Barfield added that workforce development and education are important aspects in preparing a nuclear programme. According to her, student exchanges, training programmes, and inter-university cooperation can help prepare the human resources needed if Indonesia develops SMR-based nuclear power plants in the future. Also present on the occasion, National Energy Council (DEN) member Sripeni Inten Cahyani conveyed that DEN is considering the use of SMR technology because it is more suitable for Indonesia’s geographical conditions, especially for remote areas. Although the investment cost of SMRs is relatively higher, Inten assessed that the technology is still more efficient compared to using oil-fuelled power plants, such as High Speed Diesel (HSD). However, she acknowledged that SMR technology is still in the development stage in various countries. Meanwhile, Indonesia tends to only adopt technology that has been proven and is commercially available to minimise governance and operational risks.