Jakarta—The National Energy Council (DEN) emphasises the importance of developing nuclear power plants (PLTN) as a strategic step towards clean energy transition and achieving the net-zero emissions (NZE) target by 2060. In the Katadata Policy Dialogue forum: New Directions for the Energy and Housing Sectors, DEN member Eri Purnomohadi revealed that the revision of the Government Regulation (PP) on the National Energy Policy (KEN) governing nuclear power plants will be a government priority in 2025.
“We hope that the new draft PP that allows the development of nuclear energy can be agreed upon soon. Our target is that by 2032, nuclear power plants can become one of the main energy sources in Indonesia,” said Eri on Wednesday, December 11.
In the current KEN regulation, nuclear energy is still seen as a last resort due to sensitivity issues and public concerns, especially in Java. However, Eri explains that fundamental changes in global energy needs and Indonesia’s commitment to climate change control make nuclear a demand.
“We cannot continue to depend on fossil energy. Sun and wind are green solutions, but because they are intermittent, they are insufficient to meet base load electricity needs,” he explains.
Furthermore, according to him, baseload energy should be supported by geothermal or nuclear sources, which are more stable and reliable. On the other hand, the government also faces the challenge of low national energy reserves. Acting Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dadan Kusdiana, said that Indonesia’s energy reserves can only last for 20 days, far below countries such as Japan, South Korea and India, which have reserves for over three months.
“Our energy reserves are equivalent to Rp 70 trillion, but this is still relatively small. Therefore, we are working on a business model so that energy reserves do not become passive assets but are more productive,” said Dadan.
The government has also begun to look at cross-continental energy cooperation, including developing the oil and gas sector in South Africa and Algeria. According to Dadan, production-sharing schemes in these countries give Indonesia full rights to oil and gas production, thus strengthening national energy security.
Developing nuclear power plants is also part of Indonesia’s efforts to fulfil global commitments to climate change.
“We are faced with international pressure to switch to clean energy while maintaining domestic energy security,” Eri said.
He added that the transition to clean energy requires a gradual approach, with natural gas as a transitional energy source before nuclear and green energy, such as solar and wind, become more dominant.
With the revision of PP KEN, which is planned to be completed in 2025, DEN is optimistic that nuclear power plants can begin to be developed and become a mainstay of national energy in the next few years.
“This is no longer just a discourse but an urgent need,” said Eri.
The government hopes this step will transform Indonesia’s energy sector, making it more sustainable and competitive globally.
“The construction of nuclear power plants is a long-term commitment to our energy future,” he concluded. (Hartatik)
