Canada Offers Support to Indonesia in Nuclear Energy Development

TheIndonesia.co - Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, has expressed his country’s readiness to assist Indonesia in developing nuclear energy as an alternative resource to address climate change.

According to Antara News Agency in an exclusive interview in Jakarta, Hussen highlighted Canada’s extensive experience in nuclear resources and its willingness to share expertise with Indonesia.

Hussen acknowledged Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to use nuclear power to meet its growing energy demand while managing emissions in the face of climate change. Given that Indonesia’s nuclear energy development is still in its early stages, Canada is prepared to support the establishment of a nuclear energy ecosystem, develop relevant regulations, and provide funding.

While nuclear technology cooperation can come later, Hussen emphasized the importance of preparing all aspects—including funding and technical requirements—before advancing in this area.

In addition to assisting Indonesia, Canada is also exploring the potential for nuclear resources in other ASEAN nations as a means of meeting climate mitigation targets, reducing emissions, and fulfilling energy demands.

The collaboration between Indonesia and Canada on nuclear energy has been a subject of ongoing discussions. At the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit in October 2024, the two countries explored the possibility of developing small modular reactors (SMRs), which are considered a safe and cost-effective nuclear energy source. During the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed Canada’s commitment to sharing its nuclear energy experience with ASEAN nations.

Additionally, in December 2024, Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Research Organization (ORTN BRIN) signed a letter of intent with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) for joint research and development in nuclear technology. The collaboration will focus on enhancing human resource capacity through exchanges and visits by researchers and students.