World Nuclear Association Director General Agneta Rising said today that nuclear power can help Indonesia meet its economic, energy and environmental goals. Speaking at the opening of World Nuclear Spotlight Indonesia 2018, in Jakarta, Rising said she welcomed the Indonesian government's commitment to supporting innovative nuclear technology.
"I welcome the government's commitment to supporting innovative nuclear technology, but Indonesia can meet its more immediate energy objectives with cost-effective reactor designs already proven and deployed worldwide." Rising told delegates at the conference.
Indonesia needs to double its electricity generation capacity over the next ten years, and continue that expansion beyond 2050, to improve access to electricity and meet the demand of its growing economy and population, the London-based organisation said. At the same time Indonesia needs to tackle high levels of air pollution and deliver on the commitment made at the COP 21 climate change conference to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29% by 2030, it added.
Indonesia has strong public support for nuclear energy and has committed to developing an experimental high temperature reactor, I-EPR. This could lead to new nuclear technologies that would supply electricity, desalinate water and provide district heating and industrial process heat, it said. By also committing to a programme of new build based on current technology Indonesia could benefit from nuclear generation sooner and develop skills that would be transferable to its advanced nuclear programme, it added.
More than 15 GWe of new nuclear capacity is expected to start delivering electricity this year, three times the average level seen over the previous 25 years.
Researched and writtenby World Nuclear News