Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 02:11 PM

Nuclear energy potential 'dark horse' for net-zero target: DEN

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Sugiharto Purnama, Yashinta Difa

Mataram, W. Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Nuclear energy has the potential to become a “dark horse” in accelerating Indonesia’s decarbonization efforts and achieving its net-zero emissions target, the National Energy Council (DEN) said on Thursday.

Speaking at an outreach event on the National Energy Policy at the University of Mataram, DEN member Sripeni Inten Cahyani highlighted that nuclear power is no longer viewed as a last resort in Indonesia’s energy planning.

“Previously, nuclear energy was the last option. Now, it is a dark horse that can accelerate the achievement of net-zero emissions,” Sripeni told participants in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

She noted that several neighboring ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have incorporated nuclear power into their long-term energy strategies, with projects targeted to begin operations between 2031 and 2035.

Indonesia already has a foundation for nuclear energy development, supported by specialized academic programs at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and a 30-megawatt research reactor in Serpong, Banten, which remains operational.

The national roadmap for nuclear power development has been incorporated into the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) of state-owned electricity company PLN for 2025–2034, which targets a total nuclear generation capacity of 500 megawatts (MW).

Under the plan, 250 MW is scheduled to come online in 2032, followed by another 250 MW in 2034.

Furthermore, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has identified 28 potential locations for nuclear power plants (PLTN), with initial assessments focused on West Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung.

Sripeni therefore urged the public to move beyond longstanding concerns about nuclear technology, noting that radiation is already used safely in various sectors, including medical diagnostics.

She emphasized that nuclear power could play an important role in meeting Indonesia’s rapidly growing industrial energy demand while supporting the country’s climate targets.

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