Wednesday, 5 March 2025
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PT Thorcon Power Indonesia (PT TPI) – a subsidiary of Thorcon International, a Singapore-based company – submitted its Site Evaluation Programme (PET) and Site Evaluation Management System (SMET) documents for approval to Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) during a meeting held on 13 February at BAPETEN’s Jakarta office. It was presented by Thorcon Chief Nuclear Officer Kun Chen to BAPETEN’s Deputy Chairman Haendra Subekti.
“With this submission, PT TPI officially becomes the first NPP licence applicant in Indonesia’s history, positioning the country for a new era of nuclear energy innovation and development,” Thorcon said.
It added that it is “fully committed to addressing any feedback from BAPETEN during the review process to ensure a swift and thorough evaluation”.
The submission follows almost two years of pre-licensing consultations. In March 2023, PT TPI and BAPETEN signed an agreement to officially start a ‘3S’ (safety, security and safeguards) consultation in preparation for licensing a demonstration 500 MWe Thorcon molten salt reactor. The consultation included: a review of the master plan document for the construction of the plant; consultation on the roadmap related to the reactor prototype and the Non-fission Test Platform (NTP) facility; preparation of technical and non-technical documents related to the reactor prototype and NTP required for licensing; and consultation on reactor design approval.
PT TPI’s proposed plant is based on technology developed by the US DOE Oak Ridge National Lab in the 1960s. It will feature the Thorcon 500, a 500 MWe molten salt reactor (MSR) power plant, comprised of two low-enriched-uranium-fueled 250 MWe reactors in two replaceable, sealed ‘Cans’. At any one time, just one of the Cans of each power module is producing thermal power. After eight years of operation, the nuclear module is disconnected, replaced with a new one, and towed to a maintenance centre for Can replacement.
MSRs use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. They may operate with epithermal or fast neutron spectrums, and with a variety of fuels. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233), where an initial source of fissile material such as enriched uranium needs to be provided.
“Designed for modular manufacturing, the Thorcon 500 aligns with the highest international safety standards and is expected to play a key role in Indonesia’s energy transition,” the company said. “After the initial plants is successfully deployed, Thorcon intends to develop a local manufacturing assembly line for Thorcon reactors, fostering the growth of a new industrial sector in Indonesia.”
A preliminary site survey conducted on Kelasa Island, located in Central Bangka in Bangka Belitung Province has identified the site as “a strong candidate” for the plant, Thorcon said. “The survey focused on safety, ecological, and site suitability factors, with initial results showing promise for further studies.”
Kelasa Island (Image: Thorcon)
“We are thrilled to announce that PT TPI has become the first applicant for a nuclear power plant licence in Indonesia,” said Chen. “This submission marks a historic moment for Indonesia, and we are proud to be leading the charge in bringing innovative nuclear energy solutions to the nation. We are fully prepared to collaborate with BAPETEN and undergo a rigorous evaluation process. Our commitment is to bring Indonesia’s first operational nuclear power plant online by 2032 or earlier, supporting the country’s economic growth, energy security, and sustainability.”
“We recognise and appreciate the efforts of PT TPI for their proactive consultations within the 3S framework,” BAPETEN’s Subekti said. “This approach ensures that all safety and security aspects are addressed and will help minimise technical and administrative obstacles as the licensing process continues.”
The Indonesian government has committed to implementing an energy transition to reduce climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by encouraging research and development of renewable power generation technologies. The government is targeting 8 GWe of installed capacity to come from nuclear power plants in 2035, increasing to 54 GWe in 2060.
PT TPI said its proposed plant “will provide a stable, low-cost source of baseload electricity that will complement renewable energy sources like solar and wind”.
