Indonesia and Russia strengthen strategic partnership on civil nuclear energy

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will meet Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg this week to discuss civil nuclear cooperation, defence, and security, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral economic and strategic relations.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will travel to Saint Petersburg to hold direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The stated objective is to reinforce bilateral cooperation in several key sectors, including civil nuclear energy, defence, maritime security, and trade exchanges. This meeting will take place alongside the annual Economic Forum held in this northern Russian city, where Vladimir Putin is set to deliver a speech awaited by the international community. The visit highlights the strategic importance Jakarta attributes to its diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow.

Civil nuclear and military cooperation

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Rosatom, the Russian federal agency for atomic energy, stands ready to assist Indonesia in building a civil nuclear power plant. This project aligns with Moscow’s broader ambition to enhance its energy partnerships in Southeast Asia. Lavrov also mentioned the possibility of conducting joint military exercises, demonstrating closer military cooperation between the two nations. These statements underline the strengthening of ties in areas considered strategic by both countries.

Development of economic relations

Currently, trade exchanges between Russia and Indonesia amount to approximately $4.5 billion annually. Minister Lavrov stressed that these figures could increase significantly with new bilateral trade and investment initiatives. Indonesia’s recent entry into the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) further opens the door to potentially beneficial multilateral economic partnerships. Jakarta’s integration into this economic bloc thus reinforces the strategic importance of the discussions planned in Saint Petersburg.

Regional geopolitical context

In 2024, Jakarta refuted information published by the defence-specialised media Janes, regarding a potential Russian request to station military aircraft in the Indonesian province of Papua. The news raised concerns in Australia, a neighbouring country located approximately 1,200 kilometres from this eastern region of Indonesia. The formal denial by Indonesian authorities aimed to alleviate regional fears about possible military escalation in the area. Nevertheless, exchanges between Jakarta and Moscow during this visit could still attract close scrutiny from other regional powers, notably Australia and the United States.

Work has begun at the Bailong and Lufeng sites with concrete poured for the nuclear islands, marking the start of construction for two CAP1000 reactors.
French group Orano receives USD900mn in public support to establish a new uranium enrichment facility in Tennessee, as part of a broader US nuclear sector revival plan.
Japan’s nuclear restart effort stalls after Chubu Electric acknowledged a possibly flawed seismic risk estimate at its Hamaoka facility under regulatory review.
Russia has connected its first 1,250 MW VVER-TOI reactor at the Kursk II nuclear power plant to the grid, signalling a key step toward full commissioning by 2034.
Chubu Electric acknowledged a methodological discrepancy in the seismic evaluation of two nuclear reactors, a situation that could weigh on the restart of nuclear operations in Japan.
Denison Mines is set to commit CAD600mn ($437mn) to build Phoenix, the first large-scale uranium mine developed in Canada in over a decade, with production expected by mid-2028.
The Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium secured approval for its five strategic projects, now competing for $75mn in funding under the US Tech Hub programme.
Duke Energy has filed a permit application to assess the feasibility of a nuclear reactor in Stokes County on an existing power generation site, without committing to immediate construction.
The South Korean nuclear regulator has approved the launch of the 1,400-megawatt Saeul 3 reactor, beginning with a six-month pilot phase before full commercial operation.
Ankara confirmed new Russian funding for the Akkuyu project, Turkey’s first nuclear site, strengthening its energy ties with Moscow and advancing its domestic nuclear ambitions.
Niger’s military regime disputes theft allegations by French prosecutors after uranium stock vanished from a nationalised site previously operated by Orano.
Rosatom successfully completed a series of tests on its high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel, validating its performance at up to 1,700 °C under prolonged irradiation conditions.
Videberg Kraft AB becomes the first company to request government support to build two new reactors at the Ringhals site, under the national nuclear investment framework adopted in 2025.
The European Commission opens an in-depth investigation into Prague's public funding of a major nuclear project, which could reach €30bn ($32.88bn), with guaranteed revenues over forty years.
Niigata's assembly officially backs the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site, marking a key step in Japan’s return to nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The Japanese government plans to fund up to 30% of loans required for nuclear projects, aiming to accelerate reactor restarts and double the share of nuclear energy in its energy mix by 2040.
French nuclear reactor developer Newcleo has submitted its lead-cooled small modular reactor design to Euratom, initiating the first regulatory phase to integrate nuclear non-proliferation safeguards at the European level.
French state utility EDF has increased the maximum estimated cost for building six new nuclear reactors to €72.8 billion ($85.29 billion), representing a 40% rise over the original figure.
US-based Holtec has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hungary’s energy group MVM to assess the deployment of its SMR-300 technology, strengthening bilateral nuclear cooperation and opening prospects for a new market in Central Europe.
California-based startup Radiant has secured $300mn to build its first factory in Tennessee and prepare for the mass production of miniature nuclear reactors for off-grid applications.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.