Indonesia has announced that it’s aiming to commission its first nuclear power plant within the next 9 years as part of the country’s broader push to diversify its energy mix and strengthen long-term energy security.
The country’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, was quoted by the Indonesia-based portal Jakarta Globe as saying that the proposed facility is designed to have a capacity of up to 500 megawatts (MW) and will be developed across Sumatra and Kalimantan, with 250MW allocated to each.
Indonesia aims to build nuclear power plants in Sumatra and Borneo by 2034
Bahlil Lahadalia on Tuesday (24 June) further revealed that the nuclear power plant is part of Indonesia’s national energy roadmap, and that several countries have expressed interest in partnering with Indonesia to develop nuclear energy, including Russia and Canada.
He added that his Ministry has prepared a roadmap and that the country must have its first nuclear power plant by 2034 at the latest.
Previously, Jakarta Globe reported that Indonesia is moving ahead with plans to harness nuclear energy after radioactive materials, including uranium deposits, were discovered in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.
Specifically, West Kalimantan’s Melawi regency is believed to hold an estimated 24,112 tons of uranium, making it a key area in Indonesia’s nuclear ambitions.
Currently, there is only one nuclear power plant in Southeast Asia, which is located in the Philippines’ province of Bataan.
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