Russia has said it was ready to provide Indonesia with assistance to build its own nuclear power plant.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander Ivanov said in a press conference Tuesday that the possibility of building a nuclear plant in Indonesia was one of many issues Russia was willing to discuss in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) later this year.

He said developing renewable energy cooperation with Indonesia was part of a new mechanism of Russia-ASEAN relations in Asia.

“We signed a deal with Vietnam to build a [nuclear power plant], and last year we made a presentation on nuclear power in Indonesia to the energy [and mineral resources] minister. But we think it’s up to the Indonesian government to [decide on] building the atomic power plant,” Ivanov said. 

The Indonesian government has floated the idea to building a nuclear power plant to boost the country’s electricity grid while reducing reliance of fossil fuels. 

Public resistance has long been the main barrier to the proposal’s implementation. A previous plan to build a nuclear power plant in Muria, Jepara, Central Java, faced strong opposition from locals and NGOs. 

Indonesia currently has three small nuclear reactors — in Serpong, Banten, in Yogyakarta and in Bandung, West Java. The reactors produce a combined 90 megawatts of electricity. 

Apart from Muria, the government also suggested building a nuclear power plant in Bangka Belitung and Kalimantan. 

While acknowledging that some people in Indonesia “don’t agree with the idea of having a nuclear power plant”, Ivanov said the Russian government has allocated special funds to finance joint projects, a workshop on renewable energy for ASEAN and the establishment of the ASEAN Center. 

“We have contributed US$1.75 million. Russia expects to spend US$1.5 million per year,” he said.

thejakartapost.com