Indonesia nuclear plant to cost $ 1.5 billion

Jakarta, Feb 22: Indonesia's first nuclear power plant, which it hopes to build by 2016, is likely to cost 1.5 billion dollar, Antara news agency today reported.

Asia-Pacific's only OPEC member has been trying to promote the use of alternative energy in an effort to reduce its reliance on oil and cut energy costs, and plans to build the nuclear power plant on Muria Peninsula in Central Java.

The plant will have a capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity to help meet rising demand from the country's 220 million population.

Antara quoted Adiwardojo, deputy chairman of the National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN), as saying Indonesia will team up with Japan to develop the nuclear plant. The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation.

''In line with a presidential decree on the national energy policy, the Indonesian government is intending to continue exploring alternative energy and other forms of energy, to ensure adequate energy supplies,'' Adiwardojo said.

State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara plans to build power plants to generate 10,000 megawatts by 2010 to meet rising demand and avoid power shortages.

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said in December Indonesia should not face any problem in its plan to develop civilian nuclear energy because it had met its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Reuters