Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is set to establish the Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO) this year, a key step in its nuclear energy strategy that includes plans for domestic uranium production. This initiative will be officially announced to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna next week.
"We will confirm our commitment to the IAEA in Vienna next week regarding the establishment of NEPIO," said Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New-Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry, in Jakarta on Monday.
Eniya detailed that NEPIO will operate as a non-binding, non-structural, and non-regulatory entity responsible for overseeing the development and execution of nuclear programs. This move aligns with the recently approved National Energy Policy (KEN), which targets the operationalization of a 250 megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant by 2032. Currently, Indonesia's three nuclear reactors are used solely for research.
NEPIO will focus on planning, monitoring construction, and setting safety regulations for nuclear facilities, aiming to improve the efficiency of future plants.
"NEPIO is crucial because it holds the President accountable. The plant's development will extend beyond one cabinet term, possibly spanning two, with the facility expected to be operational by 2032," Eniya explained.
The Ministry also announced plans to develop domestic uranium production, although the initial plant will rely on imported uranium.
"The duration of our reliance on imports will depend on how quickly we can transfer knowledge and achieve commercial uranium production in Indonesia," said Harris, Head of the Electrical Power Testing and Survey Center at the Ministry.
The government's goal to construct a nuclear power plant will involve significant human resources development and technology selection, including options such as small modular reactors (SMRs), high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), or thorium reactors.
In August, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov revealed that discussions on nuclear power collaboration between the two countries have been ongoing for some time. These talks precede President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's recent proposal and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tolchenov noted Indonesia's interest in Russian small modular reactor technology and floating nuclear plants.