Indonesia submits assessment of its nuclear program to IAEA

The National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN) submitted the final report on its Nuclear Energy System Assessment (NESA) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently during the 59th IAEA General Conference.

The assessment evaluated the proposed nuclear energy blueprint for the country based on the IAEA's International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) methodology. Djarot Wisnubroto, chairman of BATAN, submitted the final report to IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov.

"This assessment helps identify how far sustainability has been taken into consideration for the planned nuclear energy system, which gaps exist currently, and any future measures that must be taken," Wisnubroto said. "The assessment is expected to help address concerns and questions raised by the public and decision makers related to safety, security, environment, waste disposal, proliferation and economic aspects of a nuclear energy system."
  
The INPRO methodology is a set of criteria that aims to ensure that economic viability and sustainability, proper implementation of waste management and proliferation-resistance aspects are addressed in national nuclear programs. Within the INPRO methodology, national authorities also investigate the safety of nuclear installations, environmental impacts and what measures of protection are needed for nuclear facilities.

 The IAEA said Romania, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are also performing NESA studies on their respective nuclear programs.