"We need the government's commitment for the development of a nuclear power plant to ensure that our research and technological capabilities can be used to achieve the net-zero emissions energy target," Suparman said in Jakarta on Monday.
The government must realize its commitment to developing nuclear energy by establishing a national nuclear energy program implementation organization (NEPIO), he added.
"We already have many aspects needed to develop a nuclear power plant, including technological capabilities, and we can commence the development now (if instructed)," Suparman said.
The transition to sustainable energy sources is one of the main agendas of Indonesia's G20 Presidency for promoting the development of sustainable energy and reducing carbon emission globally, he pointed out.
Indonesia, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, has committed to producing 23-percent renewable energy by 2025, he said.
As a renewable energy source that does not emit carbon emissions, nuclear energy can help the country achieve its renewable energy target, he added.
Indonesia's researchers have sufficient capabilities in the nuclear technology sector, including in the mining of uranium, fuel technology, reactor technology, and nuclear waste management, Suparman affirmed.
National universities, such as Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, and BRIN's Indonesian Nuclear Technology Polytechnic, have also opened nuclear studies programs, with graduates currently active in the nuclear engineering sector, he noted.
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The research agency has also concluded an assessment of potential sites for a nuclear power plant in Jepara in Central Java, Bangka Belitung, and—upon request from the provincial authority—in Bengkayang in West Kalimantan, the researcher said.
While plans for building a nuclear power plant have been mulled since the 1970s and have led to the development of a nuclear research center in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, the current government is yet to take a stance on future nuclear power plant development, he added.
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Translator: Martha HS, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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