Indonesia Courts French Nuclear Investment, Eyes 500 MW Plant by 2027
Main Takeaways
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PARIS, Investortrust.id — Indonesia has invited French energy companies to invest in its nuclear power sector, starting with a 500-megawatt plant under the national electricity development roadmap. The initiative, backed by President Prabowo Subianto, is expected to reach 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity in the long term.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Special Presidential Envoy for Energy and Climate, said the offer was well received during a high-level meeting with the French business confederation Movement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF) in Paris.
"French companies are keen to participate in our nuclear program," Hashim told reporters following the Kadin-Medef Breakfast Forum on Tuesday. "President Prabowo has approved the first phase of 500 megawatts, which could eventually scale to 10 gigawatts."
The 500 MW target is in line with the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) 2025–2034. Of the initial capacity, 250 MW will be built in Kalimantan and 250 MW in Sumatra, with construction set to begin by 2027 and completion targeted for 2032.
Floating Plants and AI Oversight
Hashim emphasized that the program will include small modular reactors (SMRs) and floating nuclear plants, particularly in eastern Indonesia, to address regional energy disparities.
“Floating nuclear reactors mounted on barges or vessels will be deployed to eastern Indonesia,” said Hashim, who also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
He described nuclear energy as one of the safest sources of electricity, noting that past nuclear accidents—in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima—were all attributed to human error. He added that Indonesia plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate such risks.
“Nuclear operations will be monitored and controlled by AI to eliminate the possibility of human error,” he said.
Broader French Interest in Renewable Energy
In addition to nuclear, French companies are also exploring investment opportunities in Indonesia’s hydropower sector, including dam-based electricity projects.
According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, the nuclear initiative will be led by Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the ministry.
“Our target is to complete it by 2032,” Bahlil said. “Construction will take around 4–5 years, so ideally we begin by 2027. We'll start small—250 MW each in Kalimantan and Sumatra. If it performs well, we will expand.”
France is among the global leaders in nuclear energy, with around 80% of its electricity generated from nuclear plants. The Indonesian government aims to leverage this expertise as it pushes for energy sovereignty and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.