(Jakarta, Reuters) Indonesia plans to significantly increase renewable energy by 2040, expecting to sign several clean energy contracts in the next five years, including the introduction of 10 gigawatts of nuclear energy.
Indonesian Energy and Climate Envoy Hashim said in an interview in New York that Indonesia aims to add 103 gigawatts of power generation capacity by 2040, with 75 gigawatts from solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy, 10 gigawatts from nuclear energy, and the remaining 18 gigawatts from natural gas.
Hashim said: "Many contracts will be signed in... the next five years... especially nuclear (contracts) as the preparation time is quite long."
Indonesia's current total installed power capacity is about 90 gigawatts, more than half of which comes from coal, with less than 15 gigawatts from renewable energy. Indonesia currently has no nuclear power plants.
According to Hashim, Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), China National Nuclear Corporation, Rolls-Royce, Electricité de France (EDF), and US small modular reactor developer NuScale Power are all interested in Indonesia's nuclear power plans.
Hashim said: "I think they might invest alongside institutions like Danantara." Danantara is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Indonesian government in February this year.
Hashim stated that the site for the nuclear power plant has not yet been determined, but western Indonesia is suitable for building a single-unit nuclear power plant capable of generating 1 gigawatt of electricity, while eastern Indonesia is suitable for constructing 700 megawatt floating small modular reactors.
Although the government is committed to energy transition, Hashim emphasized that President Prabowo is working to raise the national economic growth rate to 8%, so the government will adopt a balanced strategy to achieve energy transition. "The government does not want to commit economic suicide. We will not phase out coal-fired power plants but will gradually reduce them."
Indonesian media reported at the end of last year that Indonesia's first nuclear power plant will be built on Grasak Island, more than 400 kilometers north of Jakarta. This nuclear power plant is invested and constructed by Indonesian company Thorcon, with the prototype reactor to be shipped from Korea to Indonesia in 2028.