Government plans nuclear power plant roadmap next year

By Nova Farida

Petromindo

The government plans to start formulating a roadmap for the development of nuclear power plant in the country to help meet future demand of electricity.

Director of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Maritje Hutapea said on Wednesday that while nuclear energy will be the last option in case other sources of renewable energy is not enough to meet future demand, setting up a roadmap is crucial.

?Nuclear energy roadmap will be formulated next year. The most important thing is political decision due to the lingering pros and cons,? she told Petromindo.com

She said that the ministry will cooperate with the National Nuclear Agency (BATAN) in formulating the roadmap.

Syamsir Abduh, a member of the National Energy Council (DEN), said that the nuclear power plant can have a capacity of 1,000-1,400 MW, with operation lifetime of up to 60 years.

He said that the use of nuclear energy is one of the options for national energy security stipulated in the National Energy General Planning (RUEN), which awaits the approval of President Joko Widodo.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak