FM Sugiono pushes Indonesia-Rusia nuclear power partnership

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for strategic cooperation with Russia to develop nuclear energy technology to achieve national energy self-sufficiency within the next three years.

Speaking at a summit marking the 35th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia partnership in Kazan, Sugiono reaffirmed the Indonesian government's commitment to exploring safe alternative energy options to accelerate its transition to renewable power.

“Russia's extensive experience in this field provides a strong foundation for cooperation," Sugiono said in a statement released by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

However, the foreign minister emphasized that any prospective deal must strictly adhere to technology transfer, human resource development and the implementation of the highest international safety standards.

Beyond bilateral ties, Sugiono urged for a robust strategic partnership between ASEAN and Russia to mitigate severe fragmentations in the global supply chain.

He noted that stable food and energy supplies are vital to protecting Southeast Asia's 670 million population from external shocks.

As a major global producer of energy, wheat and fertilizer, Russia plays a strategic role in maintaining predictable supply chains for ASEAN markets, he added.

“Our objective is clear, to insulate our food systems from external disruptions. Because access to affordable and nutritious food should be within reach of every household,” Sugiono remarked, adding that economic connectivity between ASEAN and the Eurasian region must be continually enhanced.

Turning to geopolitics, the foreign minister welcomed the the adoption of the Kazan Declaration, which aligns with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and its emphasis on ASEAN centrality.

While welcoming the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on de-escalation between the United States and Iran, Sugiono stressed that Indonesia remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

"Indonesia stands ready to work with Russia and all ASEAN member states to ensure that our partnership contributes to greater resilience, prosperity and lasting stability for our region,” he concluded.

Oil imports and floating nuclear plants

In a related development, Indonesia confirmed it will proceed with importing crude oil from Russia to strengthen national energy reserves amid global supply chain disruptions triggered by the US-Iran conflict.

The commitment to import 150 million barrels of Russian oil will be executed in phases until the end of 2026, following President Prabowo Subianto's recent state visit to Russia.

Concurrently, Indonesia is exploring plans to develop a fleet of floating nuclear power plants (NPPs) in collaboration with Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev confirmed that commercial talks began following the Indonesian government's keen interest in leveraging nuclear technology for its energy transition.

"Indonesia is showing tremendous interest in nuclear technologies. At the invitation of President (Prabowo) Subianto, a large Rosatom delegation visited Indonesia several weeks ago,” Likhachev said on the sidelines of the summit.

Likhachev noted that the discussions with President Prabowo focused on floating nuclear reactors, with plans to involve Indonesian businesses to ensure technology localization.

For an archipelagic nation like Indonesia, Rosatom asserts that placing nuclear reactors on specialized ships or barges is vastly more efficient and cost-effective than constructing conventional land-based grids across thousands of islands.

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Translator: Yashinta Difa

Editor: Primayanti

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