Jakarta. As Southeast Asia faces rising electricity demand and mounting pressure to cut carbon emissions, nuclear energy is re-emerging as an important part of the global energy transition.

In an interview with Investor Daily, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said Indonesia is well-positioned to become a major nuclear energy market due to its growing economy, existing nuclear infrastructure, and long-term clean energy targets.

Q: What is your assessment of the global energy transition and the growing interest in nuclear power?
As countries work to meet the Paris Agreement targets, attitudes toward clean energy are evolving. Alongside renewables, nuclear power is increasingly being recognized as a key pillar of a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.

Currently, around 415 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of about 379 gigawatts operate in 31 countries, while another 72 reactors are under construction. Around 35 countries are considering or developing nuclear power programs.

Nuclear energy today provides around 10% of global electricity generation and about a quarter of all low-carbon electricity. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), global nuclear capacity could nearly triple to 950 GW by 2050.

Interest in nuclear power is growing not only because it is clean, but also because it provides stable baseload electricity. Unlike solar and wind, nuclear plants operate continuously and are less vulnerable to fuel price volatility and geopolitical disruptions.

Recent energy crises and rising hydrocarbon prices have shown the importance of maintaining a balanced and reliable energy mix.

Q: Could Southeast Asia and Indonesia become new growth centers for nuclear energy?
Yes. Southeast Asia has strong potential to become a major growth region for nuclear power. Electricity demand in the region could double by 2050 due to urbanization, industrial expansion, and rising living standards.

Countries that traditionally relied on coal, gas, and hydropower are now considering nuclear energy to improve energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Indonesia stands out because of its rapidly growing economy and ambitious development targets. Under its Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), Indonesia aims to develop 7 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040 and 35 GW by 2060.

Indonesia has also committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and nuclear energy can support that transition while reducing carbon emissions.

Q: What are the common challenges for countries developing nuclear power programs?
I would not classify Indonesia as a newcomer. Indonesia already has three research reactors, trained personnel, and a solid nuclear infrastructure.

However, integrating nuclear power into the national energy mix requires careful preparation. Countries need strong regulations, qualified human resources, local industrial participation, and public acceptance.

Rosatom offers integrated solutions covering the full lifecycle of nuclear projects, including construction, fuel supply, operations, maintenance, and spent fuel management.

We provide a wide range of technologies, from large-capacity reactors such as the VVER-1200 to small modular reactors (SMRs) and floating nuclear power plants.

Rosatom also emphasizes localization. For example, at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project in Türkiye, more than 2,000 Turkish companies have participated, with localization exceeding 50%.

We also invest heavily in education. Currently, 29 Indonesian students are studying nuclear-related subjects in Russia through Rosatom programs, with another 13 selected for the next academic year.

Q: How can SMRs and floating nuclear plants support Indonesia’s archipelagic geography?
Safety and reliability remain our top priorities. Russian-designed nuclear plants are engineered to withstand extreme conditions, including earthquakes.

For Indonesia, which has many islands and a distributed power system, low-capacity technologies such as SMRs and floating nuclear plants could provide flexible and reliable electricity supply.

Floating nuclear power plants can be deployed directly to the host country and later withdrawn for refueling and waste management, reducing operational burdens for the customer.

We believe Indonesia could adopt a phased approach by starting with smaller-capacity projects while preparing for larger-scale plants in the future.

Q: How does Rosatom address seismic and climate-related risks?
Site safety begins with extensive geological and environmental studies before construction starts.

Russian nuclear technologies are designed to withstand earthquakes and other extreme external events. Examples include the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Türkiye, which remained resilient during the major earthquakes in 2023, and the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which continued operating after the 1988 Spitak earthquake.

Our SMR technologies are also designed to resist earthquakes, extreme temperatures, tornadoes, and heavy wind loads.

Many of these technologies are based on decades of operational experience from Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet, which has operated safely for more than 67 years.

Q: Which Rosatom technologies are most suitable for Indonesia?
There is no universal solution. The choice depends on a country’s geography, energy demand, infrastructure, and grid system.

For Indonesia, we see strong potential for low-capacity technologies, including floating nuclear power plants, because of the country’s archipelagic geography.

A phased approach could allow Indonesia to quickly develop stable low-carbon electricity while preparing for larger nuclear projects in the future.

Uzbekistan provides an interesting example. The country initially selected low-capacity reactors for its first nuclear project before later expanding into larger-capacity units.

Q: How does Rosatom handle nuclear waste management?
For floating nuclear power plants, Rosatom handles the spent fuel and removes the unit after the fuel cycle ends, meaning the host country does not need to manage nuclear waste directly.

For onshore plants, Rosatom can also provide spent nuclear fuel removal and reprocessing services, depending on the agreement with the customer.

Radioactive waste management ultimately depends on national regulations and local strategies, but we support comprehensive long-term solutions.

Q: What are the next steps in Rosatom’s partnership with Indonesia?
We highly value our partnership with Indonesia, which has strengthened significantly in recent years.

We are working closely with government institutions, the private sector, and local professionals through educational programs, knowledge sharing, and technology cooperation.

Rosatom sees strong potential in Indonesia for both low-capacity pilot projects, particularly floating nuclear power units, and larger-scale nuclear plants.

Ultimately, the final decision belongs to Indonesia, but Rosatom is ready to support long-term cooperation under various development scenarios.

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The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity without changing the substance of the remarks.