Indonesia is moving closer to developing nuclear power plants after final arrangements are set for the formation of the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO). Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has been listed as chairman of the new organization, which will regulate the commercialization of nuclear power plants.

Nominated by the National Energy Council (DEN) and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry through a ministerial decree on the preparatory team for the establishment of NEPIO, Luhut is expected to be joined by National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) steering committee head Megawati Soekarnoputri, ministers, heads of relevant government institutions, DEN members and the chair of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Board (MPTN). Additionally, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif has also been nominated as the organization's managing chairman.¹ 

In response to his nomination as NEPIO chairman, Luhut explained that there were two key concerns that Indonesia needed to address when developing nuclear power as an energy source. The first is the seismic factors, in which Luhut questions Indonesia's preparedness to face events such as earthquakes. The minister's concern stems from his comparison with Japan, a country that developed nuclear technology much earlier but, according to him, has faced significant challenges in its development due to earthquakes. Second, Luhut emphasized the need to carefully assess Indonesia's discipline in managing nuclear technology and its equipment.² 

Despite these concerns, Luhut emphasized that the government remains supportive of developing nuclear power, with a careful examination of the development process to be carried out.

In the development of nuclear power, NEPIO, reporting directly to the president, will have three working groups focusing on planning, operations and public relations. NEPIO will also play a role in ensuring the safety aspects of nuclear power development, therefore, the existence of NEPIO is crucial, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general Dadan Kusdiana. Separately, DEN noted that it had sent a letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin seeking direction regarding the formation of NEPIO and nuclear power development.

To commercialize nuclear energy, Indonesia must meet up to 19 requirements set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog. According to DEN secretary-general Djoko Siswanto, 16 of these requirements have been met, leaving three remaining: stakeholders and government policies, and the formation of NEPIO – its creation mandated by a 2021 Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry decree.³ 

Djoko added that further discussions about the comprehensive plan for the development of nuclear power plants, in the form of focus group discussions, will soon be undertaken. Following its finalization, NEPIO is expected to establish a secretariat.

After initially regarding nuclear power as "a last resort" toward achieving the country's 2060 net-zero emissions target in line with Government Regulation No. 29/2014 on the National Energy Policy (KEN), the updated KEN now considers nuclear power on par with other new and renewable energy sources. According to Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Director General for Electricity Jisman P. Hutajulu, nuclear power is projected to start commercial operations in Indonesia by 2032. Furthermore, PLN anticipates the integration of nuclear power-generated electricity into the grid by 2040.