The government will maximize the use of new and renewable energy, especially geothermal, hydro-energy and bio-fuels, before deciding to use nuclear energy.
Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Director General for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Luluk Sumiarso said here on Tuesday that the use of nuclear energy would be the last option.
“But the last option does not meant that nuclear is not prepared. It will remain being prepared but we are now still maximizing the use of other new and renewable energy such as geothermal, hydro-power, and bio-fuels which have a big potential for development,” Luluk said.
According to him, the plan to build nuclear power plants (PLTN) would continue to go ahead with the principle of conformity, readiness, and safety.
“But the use of nuclear energy needs a political decision,” Luluk said, adding that the case of nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, would be a lesson for Indonesia.
He also said the government was revising the rules of new and renewable energy utilization in the energy mix that was previously targeted at 17 percent to be 25 percent in 2025.
“The revision of the energy mix is made by including nuclear and non nuclear,” Luluk said.
He said the government would also make every effort to speed up the utilization of the new and renewable energy.
The government is currently carrying out the construction of the second phase of a 10,000 MW power plant that derives most of its energy from geothermal and hydro-power.
Earlier, the government set a target of increasing geothermal capacity by 2,000 MW in 2012 and beyond that to 5,000 MW in 2014. The the country’s geothermal potential is 29,000 MW.
Luluk said that aside from geothermal energy, his party would also review the development of bio-fuels.
