Indonesia targets to build nuclear power plant till 2039

Yogyakarta, The Gulf Observer: The government of Indonesia has set a target of realizing the construction of a nuclear power plant till 2039 to help the country achieve the target of net zero emissions and national energy resilience, Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Control Agency (Bapeten) said.

“Under the energy transition scheme conveyed at a nuclear energy meeting, the target is 2039,” Bapeten Director of Nuclear Installation and Material Control Haendra Subekti said in Yogyakarta.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has prepared the scheme for net zero emissions and discussed it with the Environment and Forestry Ministry this year, he said at a discussion on “preparing a nuclear power plant as a new and renewable energy option to achieve net zero emission and energy self reliance” at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) University Club.

In principle, a permit for the construction of nuclear power plant has been provided for in Government Regulation No. 5 of 2021 on the operation of risk-based businesses, he said.

“This means that Bapeten must have been prepared to issue a permit whenever the application is filed. Let’s say, if it is filed tomorrow, then we will evaluate and inspect it tomorrow too,” he said.

Bapeten has so far prepared a series of regulations on nuclear safety infrastructure, ranging from evaluating the planned location for the nuclear power plant, its construction to its trial operation, he said.

The location for nuclear power plant must meet the conditions in that it must not be built in a seismic zone, among others, he said.”Bapeten’s regulation on nuclear safety infrastructure has been quite complete,” he said.Bapeten must ensure that the construction of the nuclear power plant aligns with the specified design, he said.”After the construction is completed, there will be trial operation of the nuclear power plant to see its performance until it operates as expected,” he said.