Jakarta. Indonesia is stepping up plans to develop nuclear power as part of its transition to cleaner energy and its long-term drive for energy security, prompting growing interest from major nuclear-producing countries eager to offer technology, financing, or full project development.

Indonesia aims to have its first nuclear power plant operational by 2032 as it seeks to cut emissions and reduce its long-standing reliance on coal and oil. The ambition has drawn interest from multiple foreign players, including the United States, Russia, and France — each bringing different technologies, financing models, and strategic implications.

The United States, which accounts for around 30% of global nuclear power generation, has expressed readiness to cooperate. Russia, meanwhile, has actively promoted a potential deal, with President Vladimir Putin repeatedly raising the issue in discussions with President Prabowo Subianto. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has reportedly submitted proposals to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in West Kalimantan. France, whose electricity system relies heavily on nuclear power, has also signaled openness to collaboration.

Despite the flurry of offers, analysts warn that Jakarta must look beyond headline commitments and scrutinize the structure of each proposal. Pintoko Aji, head of energy system modeling at the think tank Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), said Indonesia must be clear about whether foreign partners are offering technical assistance, supplying technology, or assuming the much riskier role of developer or independent power producer.

The latter option, he said, carries the greatest exposure, as investors would be responsible for construction and long-term operations. Cost overruns and project delays — common risks in nuclear projects globally — could deter private firms from taking on that role, pushing them instead toward less risky arrangements.

“Partnership is also about operational issues: the form of support, who bears the biggest risks, and whether the business structure is bankable enough to attract private developers,” Pintoko told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

He added that government-to-government schemes are more likely to materialize.

“Under this model, the partner country’s agent acts as supplier and lender, while the government becomes the guarantor. But choosing a partner has become more complex amid today’s geopolitical tensions, as nuclear technology is closely tied to non-proliferation concerns,” he said.

Indonesia is also weighing different reactor technologies. SMRs typically have a capacity of around 300 megawatts per unit — roughly a third of conventional large reactors. Russia has promoted floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), which its ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, has described as suitable for the country’s archipelagic geography.

Russia currently operates the Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s only FNPP, capable of generating up to 70 megawatts of electricity and supplying heat for industrial use. Fitria Miftasani, a senior nuclear energy researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said floating plants could be “a viable option for supplying electricity to areas inaccessible to land-based power systems,” though their deployment would require careful regulatory assessment.

Fitria urged Indonesia not to rely on a single partner or technology.

“Diversification is key so we do not become overly dependent on one country or one technology. We must ensure the technology is efficient, competitive, proven, and includes meaningful technology transfer,” she said.

Experts also differ on whether nuclear power will deliver broad economic benefits. Pintoko said the impact would depend on how much of the supply chain — from fuel and certification to audits and human capital — could be sourced domestically. Given the capital-intensive nature of nuclear construction, the sector’s multiplier effect could be limited, while major questions remain over financing, including whether Indonesia would rely on foreign loans or domestic funding.

Fitria struck a more optimistic note, arguing that nuclear power offers stable, large-scale electricity supply and additional industrial benefits. “The heat generated can be used for industrial processes,” she said, describing nuclear plants as potential “catalysts for growth.”

On the regulatory front, a long-awaited regulation establishing a Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO) is now on President Prabowo’s desk for signing. The body is a prerequisite before construction can begin. Deputy Energy Minister Yuliot Tanjung said the government was still awaiting the regulation’s formal rollout.

Asked about Rosatom’s proposal, Yuliot said Indonesia would select a partner based on technology availability, technology transfer, and reactor pricing.

Separately, PLN Indonesia Power, a subsidiary of state utility PLN, is conducting feasibility studies for SMR development in West Kalimantan using technology from NuScale Power, an Oregon-based reactor developer. The consortium also involves a subsidiary of Fluor and Japan’s JGC.

PLN Indonesia Power president director Bernadus Sudarmanta said the company has completed a techno-economic study but acknowledged that significant work remains.

“We still need further studies, including a detailed engineering design. Given the high costs involved, regulatory certainty is critical — covering legal, technological, social, political, commercial, and financial aspects,” he said.