Indonesia is moving forward with plans to develop its first nuclear power plant by 2034 as part of its long-term strategy to diversify energy sources and enhance national energy security. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed the timeline during the 2025 Jakarta Geopolitical Forum on Tuesday, emphasizing that nuclear energy is now firmly on the country’s roadmap.

The planned nuclear facility, with a total capacity of up to 500 megawatts (MW), will be built across two locations—250 MW in Sumatra and 250 MW in Kalimantan—utilizing small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The project falls under the national energy roadmap and is part of the Electricity Supply Work Plan (RUPTL) for 2025–2034.

Minister Bahlil disclosed that several countries have expressed interest in partnering with Indonesia on nuclear development, with formal proposals already received from Canada and Russia. “As long as the partnership is mutually beneficial and aligned with Indonesia’s interests, we are open to cooperation,” he stated, while adding that discussions on the form of cooperation are ongoing.

To support the project, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is also preparing a regulation to allow for uranium processing, a critical component in nuclear energy production. Deputy Minister Yuliot Tanjung recently confirmed that the regulation will cover the purification of radioactive materials, with uranium processing categorized under radioactive business activities requiring strict oversight.

West Kalimantan, particularly Melawi Regency, holds an estimated 24,112 tons of uranium—identified as the main fuel for the reactors. The government is currently developing a licensing system to regulate radioactive mining and processing.

Despite these steps forward, the use of nuclear energy as a primary power source is still pending policy approval and the completion of a detailed feasibility study. 

Source: ANTARA