GE Interested in Building Nuclear Reactor
Monday, 19 February, 2007 | 15:10 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Bangkok: General Electric (GE) is interested in building a nuclear reactor electricity generator in Indonesia.

GE International’s Chief Executive Officer, Ferdinando Beccalli-Falco, said that the suitable reactor nuclear is a Fin. 5 reactor that can produce around 1,600 megawatts of electricity.

“The price is around US$1.4 billion (around Rp12 trillion),” he told Tempo during the GE Day event at Plaza Athenee, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ferdinando acknowledged that GE was ready to compete with two other giant nuclear technology providers, the joint venture between Mitsubishi Industries (Japan) and Areva (France) and the one between Toshiba (Japan) and Westinghouse Electric (UK).

According to him, GE is working in cooperation with Hitachi (Japan).

As has been reported in many media, the government has already discussed the plan to build a nuclear-powered electric generator.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, on several occasions has said that the nuclear reactor will be built starting 2010 or 2011.

It is expected that the nuclear reactor will be able to begin supplying electric energy starting 2015.

According to the existing blue print, the nuclear reactor will eventually be able to supply around 4,000 megawatts with around 1,000 megawatts in the first stage.

The place that is said to be the location is Mt. Muria, Jepara, Central Java.

According to Ferdinando, if the government is committed to its plan and schedule, the remaining time can be regarded urgent.

“Now the matter of time is difficult, unless the preparations are started soon,” he said.

A large team is required to manage a nuclear-powered electric generator.

Hasto Kristiyono, GE’s Director of Market Development in Indonesia, said that the US company was actually interested in working on nuclear projects.

However, the company is also developing the latest alternative energy technology such as bio-fuel and palm oil.

Stuart Dean, President Director of GE Southeast Asia, said that the company has had a long relationship with the Indonesian National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan).

The cooperation, he said, includes nuclear information and training.

Budiriza