Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom and the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN) held in Jakarta a seminar on modern technologies and solutions of the Russian nuclear industry. The event was organized by Rosatom International Network, a subsidiary of Rosatom. The seminar was attended by over 100 representatives of Indonesian government agencies and organizations, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) and other key national institutions.
“We very much appreciate our cooperation with Rosatom. Russian technologies have already made a significant contribution to the development of the Indonesian nuclear industry. Our country needs the latest, yet proven technologies to ensure its sustainable development. I am convinced that Indonesia will soon take a path of nuclear energy program,” said BATAN Chairman Dr. Djarot Wisnubroto who appreciated the progress achieved this year in the development of cooperation between Russia and Indonesia in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In his welcoming speech on behalf of Rosatom, Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business at Rosatom, also noted the success of the Russian-Indonesian cooperation in a variety of nuclear fields and highlighted the feasibility of commercial nuclear power development in Indonesia if respective political decisions were made to construct a nuclear power plant in the country.”Indonesia is the largest ASEAN economy and in order to maintain its leading positions, the country certainly needs an affordable and reliable source of power. On the back of government plans to commission 35 MW in new capacity, nuclear energy might be an important part of this ambitious program and make a significant contribution to the social and economic development of Indonesia,” noted Komarov.
According to the speaker, Indonesia will require a responsible partner to found a new industry, being able to construct a nuclear power plant and assist in the national nuclear infrastructure development, particularly by ensuring staff training and public acceptance. “ROSATOM is able and ready to become such a partner for Indonesia”, he said.
The prospects of nuclear energy development in Indonesia were in the focus of the plenary session. At this session Dr. Rida Mulyana, Director General of New and Renewable Energies and Energy Conservation with the Ministry of Energy & Natural Recourses of Indonesia, has presented his report emphasizing the importance of nuclear energy for sustainable development of the country.
Other sessions were focused on Russian expertise in the application of nuclear technologies across a wide range of areas. Russian expert presentations were devoted to competencies of Rosatom in such areas as design and construction of nuclear power plants and SMRs, the nuclear fuel cycle front and back end, and operation of nuclear power plants. Some of the presentations dealt with the Russian expertise in the development of the newcomer countries’ national nuclear programs, including in the areas of HR development and public acceptance of nuclear technologies.
TVEL to work with BATAN
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the seminar by TVEL, Rosatom’s nuclear fuel division, and the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia. The document establishes a framework for the Russian-Indonesian cooperation in the nuclear fuel field. “We appreciate Indonesia’s interest in the cooperation with Russia in nuclear technologies. TVEL is ready to offer Indonesian partners its latest, reliable solutions for the nuclear fuel cycle and develop mutually beneficial cooperation based on the rich experience gained during decades of our work”, a TVEL representative said at the seminar.
According to a representative of BATAN, this document lays a solid foundation for joint projects in the nuclear fuel cycle. “At present, Indonesia operates three research reactors and has plans to construct a multipurpose experimental reactor. We need reliable and experienced partners to ensure efficiency and safety of our current and future projects in the nuclear industry. As a leader of the global nuclear fuel market, TVEL is exactly a partner we need,” said the representative of the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia.
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In April 2015, the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN) announced the Russian-Indonesian consortium as a winner of the public tender for the pre-project design of a multipurpose experimental high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. Also in April 2015, VO Isotope (Rosatom’s subsidiary and isotope exporter) shipped 60Co-based ionizing radiation sources to Rel-ion, an Indonesian company. A number of framework agreements were signed earlier this year. In June 2015, BATAN and Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding on peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Another memorandum of understanding was signed also in June 2015 between BATAN and Rosatom Central Institute for Continuing Education and Training (ROSATOM CICET).
