State electricity firm PT PLN says it is ready to operate Indonesia’s first nuclear power plant after a minister recently announced his approval of the long-stalled plant construction plan.
PLN managing director Nur Pamudji said on Tuesday in Jakarta that the government had yet to appoint a party to run the plant, and that PLN may have to compete with others to win the project.
“We don’t know which company or agency will be appointed [to run the nuke plant]. But we’re ready for the job if the government decides to appoint us,” Nur said as quoted by Antara.
“If [the plant] is ready, we’re also ready to distribute the electricity produced,” he added.
Nur further said that PLN may have to compete with the National Atomic Agency (Batan), among other institutions, to win the right to operate the plant.
The government has long planned to construct a nuclear plant, but controversy surrounding its safety, including the quake-triggered nuclear crisis in Japan, has continually stalled the plan.
New State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, who is a former PLN managing director, said recently that he approved the construction of a 200-kilowatt nuclear plant starting this year.
