Indonesia progressing to an experimental small modular nuclear reactor

Indonesia’s National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) has launched a roadmap for developing a detailed engineering design for its Experimental Power Reactor.

Batan launched a plan in 2014 to build an 10 MWt RDE at its largest research center site – the Puspiptek Complex, in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten – as a first strategic milestone for the introduction of large-scale nuclear power plant fleets into the country. The RDE is a very small sized pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) with low enriched uranium oxide TRISO fuel.

Indonesia is planning the start-up of conventional large light-water reactors on the populous islands of Bali, Java, Madura and Sumatra from 2027 onwards. In addition, it is planning for the deployment of small HTGRs (up to 100 MWe) on Kalimantan, Sulawesi and other islands to supply power and heat for industrial use.