Indonesia has taken a major step toward building its first commercial nuclear power plant, with PT Thorcon Power Indonesia submitting licensing documents for a molten salt reactor (MSR) project on Kelasa Island, Central Bangka.
Thorcon, a Singapore-based company, aims to deploy a 500 MW MSR prototype, eventually expanding to local manufacturing. The plant is based on U.S.-developed technology using thorium, a metal more abundant than uranium and with high energy potential.
Indonesia sees nuclear as key to its net-zero goals, with the International Energy Agency estimating nuclear could contribute 5 percent to its 2050 emissions cuts, according to NucNet.
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A U.S.-backed small modular reactor (SMR) site has been identified in West Kalimantan, while Danish and Indonesian firms plan a Borneo-based SMR facility to produce low-emission ammonia.
Russia has also expressed interest in collaborating on nuclear projects, including floating reactors suitable for the archipelagic nation.
Indonesia expects nuclear energy to enter the national grid before 2040.
