Indonesia to build first nuclear power plant

Indonesia is planning to build its first nuclear power plant on Kelasa island in Bangka Belitung province.

Bob S. Effendi, chief operating officer of PT ThorCon Power Indonesia – the project’s investor - said that the regional regulations on spatial planning are awaiting approval.

The prototype reactor will be delivered by sea from South Korea in 2028. The total investment for this project is estimated at IDR17,000 billion ($1.06 billion), including survey, research, technology transfer and infrastructure, among other items.

The company plans to use thorium, a rare earth element, as a raw material and build the country's only thorium-based nuclear power plant, which is also a pilot plant in the world, with abundant resources in Bangka Belitung.

According to Effendi, for the electronics industry, Indonesia is strong in rare earth elements. However, this potential has not been effectively exploited to contribute to the economy.

Bangka Belitung governor's spokesman Eko Kurniawan said the local authority is developing a medium-term development plan in line with the country's goals. They have set a target of adding 100 gigawatts (GW) of electricity supply in the next 15 years, of which renewable energy will contribute 75% and nuclear power will contribute 5% of the total target.

Previously, the Indonesian government announced plans to build more than 20 nuclear power plants by 2050. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the state-owned electricity company (PLN) is cooperating with companies from Japan and the United States to build plants in the country.

South Korea, Russia, France and China have also expressed interest in supporting the development of nuclear power in Indonesia.

Indonesia has two potential locations for nuclear power plants, West Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung. Renewable energy plays an important role in the country's plan to phase out coal-fired power plants.