Japan offers to cooperate with RI in nuclear technology development

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - The Japanese government has offered to cooperate with Indonesia in nuclear technology development, Capital Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) Chief Muhammad Luftie said here on Friday.

He said the offer was conveyed by Japan`s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari to visiting Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Tokyo on Friday.

According to Lufti, the nuclear technology issue was an old discourse which continued to develop but it had to be admitted that the use of nuclear energy was inevitable in the future.

"Japan did offer cooperation in nuclear technology development," Lutfi said, adding that technical discussions to follow up Japan`s offer would be done in a Working Group.

He said besides offering cooperation in nuclear technology development, Japan had also expressed hope that Indonesia would continue to export gas to Japan.

But Vice President M Jusuf Kalla had made it clear that Indonesia also needed gas supply for domestic consumption.

On the other hand, Lutfi said, Japan and Indonesia would also cooperate in development of alternative energy sources such as geothermal energy and hydroenergy.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the volume of Indonesia`s gas exports to Japan was not discussed in Kalla`s meeting with Akira Amari.

But in an interview with Mikkei, Vice President Jusuf Kalla had said Indonesia would probably increase its gas exports to Japan to over 8 million tons on condition that Japan also invest in gas exploration ventures in Indonesia.