Govt to open tender for nuclear power plant in 2008

The government will likely open a tender for the construction of the country's first power plant in 2008, a senior official of the national atomic energy agency (Batan) has said. Bisnis Indonesia reported Tuesday.

The chairman of the agency, Soediartomo Suntono, said in Jakarta on Monday that the construction of the nuclear power plant, which would have two generators with a capacity of 1,000 MW each, was expected to start 2010.

"We hope in 2016, the nuclear power plant can begin commercial operation," he said, adding that the schedule was part of the government's fast-track program to cope with the power shortage in the country.

Construction of the nuclear power plant which will occupy a 25 hectares area in Muria district, Jepara regency, Central Java, will cost about US$3 billion.(*)