A World Bank report says Indonesia does not need nuclear power. The report says Indonesia has the capacity to greatly increase its electricity generation by conventional means.

It says that given the environmental risks, Indonesia should fully exploit this capacity rather than resort to nuclear power.

Earlier this year, the Indonesian parliament passed legislation providing for a consultative body to investigate the possible building of a nuclear power plant – a proposal strongly opposed by environmentalists.

Some preparatory work has already been done for a proposed nuclear reactor an the slopes of the Muria volcano on the northern coast of densely-populated Central Java.

Officials have said that its construction would start early next century.