Although concerns about nuclear energy still occur in a number of circles in Indonesia, the House of Representatives (DPR) pushes nuclear entry as a new energy option in the Renewable Energy Law (EBT) Plan: this draft includes nuclear to no longer be the last choice or option to supply Indonesia’s energy resources in the future.
Dr. H. Kurtubi, Member of the House of Representatives Commission VII, National Democrat Party Faction, stated that nuclear or nuclear power plants (PLTN) are fueled by uranium and the rest are still able to be renewed so that they are classified as EBT.
“We realize that nuclear energy has a characteristic, namely great energy, clean, safe and stable generating electricity” Kurtubi declared on the sidelines of the book launching of BPPT, Indonesia’s Prespective, Potential and Energy Reserves in Jakarta, Tuesday (25/9 )
The EBT bill could be completed in 2019. He added, with the nuclear category as energy for EBT, that does not mean that other energy is excluded, such as solar, wind and water energy. But the use of nuclear energy is more reliable to produce electricity.
“A nuclear power plant can be studied in areas with minimal earthquakes such as West Kalimantan and with a strong construction the earthquake magnitude scale of 9 can still stand,” he said. “Moreover, the ability of Indonesian human resources in the field of nuclear science and technology owned by Batan is very capable and recognized worldwide. This nation is already accustomed to small-scale nuclear power plants for laboratories and studies. Now is the time to talk about commercial-scale nuclear power plants”.
At present, Indonesia already has three research-scale nuclear reactors in three locations, namely Puspiptek Serpong, South Tangerang, Bandung and Yogyakarta. In the field of research, the application of nuclear technology has been used in the field of food and health.
Batan is now preparing an experimental power reactor (RDE) at Puspiptek Serpong. RDE is prepared with a power of 250 megawatts of thermal (MWt), which if converted to electricity is around 40 percent, which is 10 MWe (MW electric). This RDE will also be called the Merah Putih nuclear power plant.
