Minister of Industry (Industry) Saleh Husin said the importance of the development of new energy sources to meet the energy supply to the domestic industry. One of them is the construction of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) based on thorium.
According to Saleh, nuclear power has the potential to be one of the electrical energy supplier in Indonesia, especially raw material resources are very abundant thorium in Indonesia, especially in Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands.
"The source of raw materials abundant thorium in Bangka Belitung. It is necessary, in view of the future energy needs for the industry is huge and certainly at a competitive price, "he said in Jakarta, Thursday (05/05/2016).
Calculations were there, the raw material thorium in the Pacific Islands is expected to reach 170 thousand tons. With the calculation of 1 ton of thorium capable of producing 1,000 megawatts (MW) per year, then the amount of raw materials that can operate 170 units of power plants for 1,000 years.
In terms of total cost of production, thorium nuclear power plants is also cheaper because it costs only $ 3 cents per kWh. While coal use cost USD5,6 cents per kWh, gas USD4,8 cents per kWh, wind energy USD18,4 cents per kWh, and solar power USD23,5 cents per kWh.
Meanwhile, members of the National Energy Council (DEN), Tumiran supported the proposal. According to him, the supply of energy to industry is essential to the survival of the economy, employment, and economic independence.
"The technology of energy supply continues to grow and we can use it the national energy potential map, including the next-generation reactor technology is now much different from the previous generation. Thorium nuclear power plants can provide energy needs increasing, "he said.
The man who is also Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, added that the thorium utilization, including energy diversification. In line with industrial activities which absorb investment and mineral resources. (Sindo)
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