Indonesia to Focus on Renewable Energy, Not Nuclear Power
Indonesia will most likely abandon its plans to establish four nuclear plants (with a combined capacity of 6 GW) by 2025. Sudirman Said, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, recently said there are plenty of alternatives - especially renewable energy - in Indonesia to meet the government's target of 136.7 GW of power capacity by 2025 and 430 GW by the year 2050. Nuclear power is controversial due to health risks, environmental damage and nuclear proliferation (when used as a weapon). The nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011 highlighted the risks of tapping nuclear power.
However, Minister Said stated that Indonesia will continue to follow global developments regarding the use of nuclear power, and although nuclear technology will not be an option in the short or middle-long term, the government may decide to tap this energy source beyond the year 2050.
Since the 1950s Indonesia has experimented with nuclear energy, operating three small reactors in Yogyakarta (100 kilowatt), Bandung (250 kilowatt), and Serpong (30 kilowatt).
In the National Energy Plan (NEP) Indonesia lays down targets and guidelines for the country's energy development. Whereas in 2006 - the last time the NEP was revised - this plan still left room for nuclear power development in Indonesia, the next revision will emphasize the use of renewable energy (such as geothermal power and coal-bed methane) to meet the country's primary energy demand. Renewable energy is projected to account for 23 percent of Indonesia's total primary energy by 2025 (from a mere 5 percent currently). Recently, Indonesia's National Energy Council completed the new revisions and which are to be signed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo soon. The NEP also contains guidelines and targets regarding Indonesia's commitment to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, the role of coal in the country's energy mix is to be curtailed slightly from 33 percent to 30 percent of total primary energy. The contribution of oil is set to rise from 20 percent to 25 percent of energy in the next decade. Lastly, natural gas is planned to account for the 22 percent of the energy mix by 2025.
Energy Mix Indonesia:
| Energy Mix 2011 |
Energy Mix 2025 |
|
| Oil | 50% | 25% |
| Coal | 24% | 30% |
| Gas | 20% | 22% |
| Renewable Energy | 6% | 23% |
Source: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources