Indonesia will not develop nuclear power anytime soon: Minister

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 02/05/2010 3:01 PM

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh said the government had yet to consider developing nuclear energy for electricity generation.

"We will exploit other available energy sources first," Darwin told reporters Friday.

He added that the government would remain open to study the development of any alternative energy, including nuclear energy.

Currently, the biggest energy source for power plants operated by state utility firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN) is still coal, which is estimated to reach 44 percent of the company's total energy production this year.

PLN also generates power from oil-based fuels (19 percent), biofuel (1 percent), hydro (7 percent), gas (26 percent) and geothermal (2 percent).