Indonesia's First Nuclear Power Plant Plan: Regulatory Authority Approves Site Assessment Survey on Kelasa Island

This is a business brief by JETRO released on August 15, 2025, regarding Indonesia's nuclear power plant construction plan. Details and Significance of the Approval On July 30, the Indonesian Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) approved the Site Evaluation Program (PET) and Site Evaluation Management (SMET) submitted by Singapore-based Thorcon Power Indonesia (TPI) for the country's first nuclear power plant planned on Kelasa Island in Bangka Belitung Province. This approval allows TPI to officially commence detailed evaluation surveys on site conditions. The review was completed in 126 business days, significantly shortened from the initially expected one year. Technical Specifications and Assessment Process The planned nuclear power plant is premised on constructing a 500MW-class molten salt reactor (TMSR-500) using technology developed by the US Oak Ridge National Laboratory. BAPETEN has defined conducting external event assessments in six areas: earthquakes, geology, volcanic activity, meteorology/hydrology, human-induced events, and radioactive material dispersion. Field verification was conducted by eight assessment officials from July 21-25. Future Licensing Procedures and Schedule The current approval is for commencing site evaluation, not construction permission. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), transition to the construction phase requires completion of related procedures including power system planning, land use planning, and Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL). BAPETEN regulations require proceeding with construction site approval, construction permit, and operation permit in sequence. While Thorcon aims for construction start in 2027 and rated output operation in 2031, the realization timeline will depend on the progress of licensing and financing. The article conveys that the Indonesian New Nuclear Energy Association president indicates the possibility of operation within 5-10 years through improved licensing system efficiency, emphasizing that ensuring safety requires defense-in-depth principles and institutional framework development.