Vietnam’s VNExpress (VNE) is reporting that Indonesia is planning to build its first thorium-based nuclear power plant on Kelasa island in Bangka Belitung.
Bob S. Effendi, Chief Operating Officer of PT ThorCon Power Indonesia, the project’s investor, said that the regional regulations on spatial planning are awaiting approval.
The reactor prototype will be delivered by sea from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in 2028. The total investment for this project is estimated at IDR 17,000 billion (approximately USD 1.06 billion), including survey, research, technology transfer and infrastructure, among other items.
According to VNE, the company plans to use thorium, a rare earth element, as a raw material and build the country’s only thorium-based nuclear power plant, which is also a pilot plant in the world, with abundant tin resources in Bangka Belitung.
According to Effendi, for the electronics industry, Indonesia is strong in rare earth elements. However, this potential has not been effectively exploited to contribute to the economy.
Bangka Belitung governor’s spokesman Eko Kurniawan said the local authority is developing a medium-term development plan in line with the country’s goals. They have set a target of adding 100 gigawatts (GW) of electricity supply in the next 15 years, of which renewable energy will contribute 75 percent and nuclear power will contribute 5 percent of the total target, VNE reports.
Previously, the Indonesian government announced plans to build more than 20 nuclear power plants by 2050. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the state-owned electricity company (PLN) is cooperating with companies from Japan and the United States to build plants in the country. The RoK, Russia, France and China have also expressed interest in supporting the development of nuclear power in Indonesia.
Indonesia has two potential locations for nuclear power plants, namely West Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung. Renewable energy plays an important role in the country’s plan to phase out coal-fired power plants.
Source: VN Express Internationa (VNE)
Image: Wikimedia Creative Commons
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