Indonesia announces its entry into the nuclear club... plans to build 30 reactors by 2060.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Reports: Indonesia has announced its entry into a new era of nuclear energy, planning to build nuclear power plants with a total capacity of up to 7 gigawatts by 2040, as part of its long-term strategy to secure clean and sustainable energy. Darmawan Prasodjo, director of the state electricity company PT PLN, revealed during a hearing with the Twelfth Committee on Energy, Mineral Resources, and Environment in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, that these plans are still in the draft stage, and the technical modeling has not yet been completed, but they represent a bold step towards an ambitious transformation in the energy sector. Prasodjo said: "The state must play the main role here, and the national electricity company is only a tool to implement government policies. The RUPTL project with a capacity of 500 megawatts for the period 2025-2034 is considered only a first step, before moving to a larger plan of up to about 7 gigawatts by 2040." The RUPTL plan refers to the construction of two nuclear power plants with a capacity of 250 megawatts each in South Sumatra and West Kalimantan, to be connected to the electricity grid by 2032, forming the cornerstone of national nuclear energy, according to the "Indonesia Business Spot" website. The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Environmental Management also emphasizes a long-term vision, aiming to produce 35 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2060; which means building more than 30 nuclear units in various parts of the country. Enya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, stated: "Nuclear energy is the solution to providing base load energy alongside renewable energy, which is an essential element to ensure national energy security." The government is working to establish the National Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO) to accelerate the development of this sector, in coordination with several ministries to ensure the strategy is implemented efficiently and effectively. Internationally, Indonesia has received formal offers from five countries, including Canada and Russia, to build nuclear power plants on its territory. Minister of Economic and Strategic Affairs, Bahlil Lahadalia, said on August 25, 2025: "We are still reviewing the proposals and have not yet chosen a specific design for nuclear technology, as all options are currently under evaluation." The government expects that nuclear energy will provide affordable energy prices, boost economic growth, create jobs, attract investments, and raise levels of public welfare, setting Indonesia up for a new chapter of modern and sustainable energy.