Representing BAPETEN at the event were Acting Chairman of BAPETEN Zainal Arifin, accompanied by the Director of Inspection of Nuclear Installations and Materials (DIIBN), Lukman Hakim; the Director of Licensing of Radiation Facilities and Radioactive Materials (DPFRZR), Asep Saefulloh Hermawan; and their respective staff. The IAEA delegation was led by the Director of the Safeguards Division of Operations A (SGOA2), Mohamed Lamari, accompanied by SGOA2 Section Head Djamel Tadjer and Country Officer for Indonesia Denis Caron. Representatives from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting.

In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of BAPETEN reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to safeguards implementation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Meanwhile, Mohamed Lamari expressed appreciation for Indonesia's transparency in safeguards implementation and noted that the cooperation between Indonesia and the IAEA remains strong and consistent.

Mohamed Lamari also highlighted Indonesia's importance in safeguards implementation, particularly as a country currently preparing for an NPP program. A key issue discussed was the reporting of depleted uranium (DU) used in non-nuclear activities; the IAEA maintains that DU is classified as nuclear material and must therefore be declared and subject to oversight, covering both safety and security aspects.

During the meeting, BAPETEN noted that the oversight of DU in Indonesia still faces regulatory challenges, especially regarding its use in non-nuclear applications. Consequently, BAPETEN expected to strengthen regulations and improve coordination regarding DU reporting in the future.

The meeting also addressed technological developments concerning floating nuclear power plants (floating NPPs). “The safeguards concept for floating nuclear power plants is still being studied, as it involves jurisdictional aspects and cross-border control issues,” explained Mohamed Lamari.

Additionally, discussions covered the progress of the ThorCon Power Indonesia project, which remains in the pre-licensing consultation and site evaluation phase. The IAEA encourages the implementation of a “Safeguards by Design” approach starting from the early stages of reactor technology development.

Through this meeting, BAPETEN and the IAEA reaffirmed the importance of communication, transparency, and technical cooperation in strengthening Indonesia’s safeguards preparedness, particularly in light of advancements in reactor technology and potential future nuclear power plant programs. [BHKK/GP]