Russia, Indonesia studying deal on floating nuclear power plant in Sulawesi

Russia, Indonesia studying deal on floating nuclear power plant in Sulawesi

Indonesia is poised to sign an agreement with Russia’s national electricity trading company Raoues on the possibility of developing a floating nuclear power plant, from which Indonesia will buy electricity at predetermined rates, a provincial government official said.

Authorities from Gorontalo province on Sulawesi island signed a memorandum of understanding last Friday with the Russian-Indonesian Corp, a joint venture between the two countries aimed at developing trade, over Raoues developing the plant, provincial spokesman Rudi Iriawan told Agence France-Presse.

The head of the provincial economic affairs bureau, Ishak Ndoma, said a further agreement between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Raoues is to be signed in the next few weeks over the 70-megawatt plant.

‘This MOU will be followed up by the president of the Republic of Indonesia on December 2 in Russia,’ he said.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarengang said he could not confirm the trip was going ahead but it was ‘possible’, noting that ultimate authority on nuclear power in Indonesia rested with the president and not the regions.

Ndoma said only after Yudhoyono had signed the agreement would ‘the Russian side send a team to Gorontalo to conduct the feasibility study for the project.’

‘They will build the plant themselves and no money from the government will be used,’ he said, adding that the government would purchase the electricity at predetermined rates.

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