Asia-Pacific

Indonesia puts nuclear power plant as last choice

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-17 15:45

JAKARTA - Indonesia puts nuclear power plant as the last choice for alternative energy source, Kompas daily quoted a minister as saying on Thursday.

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Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said that, however, Indonesia does not close itself on nuclear energy choice.

"Whether there are earthquakes in Japan or not, Indonesia puts nuclear as the last choice," he said.

Rajasa said that other energy resources would be more prioritized than nuclear.

A member of the National Energy Council Rinaldy Dalimi told the daily that Indonesia has many coal resources that have not been used optimally as power energy.

He said that out of 300 million tons of coal production per year, about 75-80 million tons are exported.

"We should consider coal as cheap energy resources. I agree that nuclear becoming the last alternative," said Dalimi.