Indonesia considers nuclear development cooperation with Russia

In the next 20 years, more and more countries may implement and utilize nuclear technology.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government is considering offers for bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear development from a number of countries, including Russia.

It was conveyed by Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif in a written statement received here on Monday (July 4) regarding the interest of Russian energy companies to develop the nuclear power industry or nuclear power plants in Indonesia.

The minister said the government would further examine the potential for such cooperation by looking at its competitiveness and reliability.

“The need for nuclear will only start in 2040 based on the energy roadmap that we have compiled,” Arifin said, adding that Indonesia has the raw materials needed to develop nuclear power plant to meet future clean electricity demand.

In the next 20 years, he continued, many countries would also implement and utilize nuclear technology. Of course nuclear technology in the future is expected to be more secure.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the interest of a Russian company to develop a nuclear power industry in Indonesia.

He conveyed this at a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo in Moscow on June 30, 2022.

During the meeting, Putin said that the Russian energy company, Rosatom State Corporation, which has experience, competence and cutting-edge technology, is willing to be involved in joint projects to develop the nuclear energy industry in the archipelagic country.

Nuclear development

Research and development of nuclear energy in Indonesia has received a lot of international supports.

In November 2007, the governments of Indonesia and Japan signed a cooperation agreement regarding assistance to be provided for the preparation, planning, and promotion of Indonesia’s nuclear power development and assistance for public relations activities.

Then, in August 2014, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) announced that it agreed to extend a cooperation agreement with BATAN (Indonesia’s National Nuclear Energy Agency) to include research and development of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR).

Meanwhile, in June 2015 Russia’s Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the peaceful use of nuclear energy with BATAN. This MoU is designed to lead to other areas of cooperation outside the HTGR project, including the possibility of building a Russian nuclear power unit in Indonesia.

Furthermore, in March 2017, the Russian and Indonesian nuclear regulatory authorities, Rostechnadzor and BAPETEN signed an agreement on cooperation on various issues related to the regulation of nuclear and radiation safety, as well as nuclear security.

Source: Infopublik.id; https://world-nuclear.org/

Reporting by Indonesia Window