Jakarta, INTI - Sripeni Inten Cahyani, a member of the National Energy Council (DEN), stated that nuclear energy holds the potential to accelerate the decarbonization process and the achievement of carbon neutrality targets in Indonesia.
"In the past, nuclear power was considered a last resort. Now, however, it is no longer a last resort but rather a 'dark horse' that can drive the acceleration toward achieving net-zero emissions," she said during the dissemination event for national energy policy at Universitas Mataram on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Indonesia’s Potential in Nuclear Power Research
Nuclear energy development programs have become increasingly relevant as Indonesia requires an energy source capable of meeting the demands of both industry and the public while simultaneously supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Sripeni noted that several ASEAN nations have already incorporated nuclear power into their long-term energy strategies. Malaysia and the Philippines are reportedly set to embark on nuclear energy projects in 2031, while Vietnam has set a target timeframe between 2031 and 2035.
According to her, Indonesia possesses strong assets for developing nuclear technology for energy purposes, in terms of both human resources and research facilities. Indonesia has a nuclear education program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and the nuclear reactor facility in Serpong, Banten, has a capacity of approximately 30 megawatts dedicated to research.
"We already have a 30-megawatt nuclear facility in Serpong, but it has not yet been utilized for electricity generation and remains limited to research purposes," said Sripeni.
PLN and BRIN’s Plans for Nuclear Power Plant Development
Furthermore, she stated that the current nuclear development program has a concrete direction, evidenced by site identification and the inclusion of nuclear power plant plans in PLN’s Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) for the 2025–2034 period.
Under this RUPTL, the development of nuclear power plants targets a total capacity of 500 megawatts, comprising 250 megawatts in 2032 and another 250 megawatts in 2034.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has also identified 28 potential sites for nuclear power plants. Among these locations, development efforts are currently focused on West Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung.
Sripeni emphasized that nuclear development need no longer be viewed with apprehension, as radiation technology is already widely utilized across various sectors of life, including medical X-ray services.
Conclusion
Sripeni Inten Cahyani, a member of the National Energy Council (DEN), believes that nuclear energy has the potential to drive the acceleration of decarbonization and help Indonesia achieve its net-zero emission targets. Indonesia is considered to possess the necessary assets for nuclear energy development. Plans for developing nuclear power plants are also taking concrete shape through PLN’s 2025–2034 RUPTL and BRIN’s work in identifying 28 potential sites for the plants.
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