Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is calling for the development of a structured and integrated roadmap for nuclear human resource development to support the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP).

The initiative was discussed during a workshop organized by BRIN’s Nuclear Energy Research Organization (ORTN), together with the Indonesian Nuclear Technology Polytechnic (Poltek Nuklir) and the Nuclear Reactor Technology Research Center (PRTRN), in Yogyakarta on November 2–3, 2026.

Head of BRIN’s ORTN, Syaiful Bakhri, emphasized that workforce preparation should go beyond discussions and coordination. The outcomes must be translated into actionable work plans with clear targets, defined responsibilities, and implementation stages.

“Workforce preparation is an essential component of plans to incorporate nuclear energy into the national energy mix,” he added.

Amid efforts to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and achieve the net-zero emissions target by 2060, Indonesia is considering nuclear power as one of its electricity generation options.

Under the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025–2045, established through Law No. 59 of 2024, the operation of Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant is targeted to begin in 2032.

“The consolidation process must not stop at meetings and exchanges of views. It must produce a plan that can serve as a shared reference for meeting Indonesia’s national nuclear workforce requirements,” Syaiful stated.

Indonesia Prepares Nuclear Workforce for 2032 Power Plant Target 

According to Syaiful, the nuclear workforce development roadmap and master plan must be aligned with the stages of NPP development, covering the periods of 2032, 2040, 2050, and 2060. Workforce demand projections must also take into account the selected technology, whether Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) or large-scale reactors.

“Indonesia needs to establish a workforce procurement strategy, either by upgrading the competencies of existing PLN personnel or through education and training programs for new professionals,” he said.

He added that the government, regulators, research institutions, universities, industry players, and prospective technology providers must be involved from the planning stage. Industry and technology providers are particularly important in ensuring that training programs align with required competencies, including through on-the-job training (OJT) and training of trainers (ToT) programs.

Syaiful also noted that Indonesia needs a nuclear workforce development system that does not depend on a single reactor type or technology provider. The system must prepare professionals for operations, maintenance, construction, and supporting functions, while also covering nuclear fuel cycle management, radioactive waste management, and related infrastructure.

Strong coordination among national institutions is required to ensure effective workforce planning, recruitment, training, certification, financing, and management.

“In the long term, this effort will also require the involvement of universities across various academic disciplines. Expanding educational partnerships will help increase both the number and quality of professionals needed for nuclear power plants and other applications of nuclear technology,” he explained.

Industry and Universities Play Key Role in Nuclear Talent Development 

Meanwhile, Director of the Indonesian Nuclear Technology Polytechnic (Poltek Nuklir) at BRIN, Zainal Arief, explained that the workshop was a follow-up to the National Symposium on Nuclear Power Plant Development, held at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) on September 6–7, 2026.

“The symposium resulted in several shared understandings regarding workforce development needs, which must now be translated into collective action. This meeting further developed those agreements through more in-depth coordination,” Zainal said.

He emphasized the need for collaboration among the government, regulators, industry, and universities, with the involvement of communities and media organizations.

Such collaboration is expected to clarify the roles of each stakeholder, establish coordination mechanisms, and agree on an integrated workforce development platform along with the institution responsible for managing it.

“With clear coordination, each institution is expected to contribute according to its capabilities and authority. This will ensure that workforce preparation programs are more focused and capable of supporting the development of Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant,” he said.

Head of PRTRN, Topan Setiadipura, highlighted that NPP workforce requirements extend beyond specialists in nuclear science and technology.

According to his estimates, approximately 15% of the workforce will require specialized nuclear expertise, while the remaining 85% can come from broader industrial backgrounds, including mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and other engineering disciplines.

Therefore, workforce preparation must combine the development of specialized nuclear expertise with the enhancement of competencies among existing professionals across various industries.

Support from technology providers and international cooperation is also considered essential to strengthen training programs and facilitate knowledge transfer.

“The main focus should not only be on producing nuclear specialists but also on optimizing the capabilities of professionals from various industrial sectors,” Topan stated.

Through this workshop, BRIN hopes to establish a national nuclear workforce development framework with clear strategic direction, defined responsibilities, and effective implementation mechanisms.

This framework is expected to ensure that qualified professionals who meet nuclear competency, safety, and security standards are prepared gradually to support the construction and operation of Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant.

The workshop also featured speakers from PT PLN, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), and the Directorate General of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Diktisaintek). Representatives from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), University of Indonesia (UI), and PLN Institute of Technology (ITPLN) also participated as respondents.

Conclusion 

Indonesia is laying the foundation for its first nuclear power plant by developing an integrated workforce strategy targeting the 2032 operational timeline. Through collaboration between government institutions, academia, regulators, and industry, BRIN aims to ensure the availability of skilled professionals to support nuclear energy development, operational safety, and Indonesia’s long-term energy transition.

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