3 key areas in Russia-Indonesia ties
October 15, 2015
ALEKSANDR ILYUTOCHKIN,
RBTH
RBTH looks at the most important areas in Russia-Indonesia bilateral relations, which have been on the upswing over the last 10 years.
DEFENCE,
INFRASTRUCTURE,
NUCLEAR ENERGY,
ASIA-PACIFIC,
INDONESIA
A Russian-built, Kilo-class diesel submarine. Source: Reuters
Defense
In September 2015, the Indonesian government said it
would buy a squadron of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters to replace its outdated U.S.-made F-5 Tigers. Jakarta also
plans to buy 5 Russian submarines.
Initially Indonesia looked at buying Kilo-class diesel electric submarines, but later chose the more advanced Amur-class submarine, which is the export version of the Lada-class.
Russia is ready to loan Indonesia $3 billion for these purchases.
According to industry analysts, Indonesia may also be looking to buy medium-range anti-aircraft missiles. The country already has a number of Sukhoi fighter jets, Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, BMP-3 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, one BTR-80 wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier and Kalashnikov AK-101 and AK-102 rifles.
Nuclear energy
In June 2015, the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of large nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power stations.
In an interview with
RBTH Indonesia, the country's ambassador to Russia Djauhari Oratmangun said nuclear power plants could help meet Indonesia’s growing demand for electricity.
Infrastructure
Russian Railways has a 50 percent stake in the Kalimantan Rail Company, which is building a 300 km-long railway line linking Central and East Kalimantan provinces.
By 2019, the company plans to finish around 190 km of the railway line and construct a seaport terminal in East Kalimantan for coal exports.
During his visit to Moscow in September 2015, the governor of East Kalimantan Awang Faroek Ishak said his province would also like to use the railway to export palm oil, timber and other resources. Passenger services are also under consideration.
3 key areas in Russia-Indonesia ties | Russia Beyond the Headlines
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R&D
Indonesia has a number of nuclear-related facilities in operation. BATAN operates three research reactors: in Serpong, Banten on the western outskirts of Jakarta (30 MW), Bandung, west Java (2 MW), and in Yogyakarta, central Java (100 kW).
The Serpong multipurpose reactor, which started up in 1987, is intended to support the introduction of nuclear power to the country. It is in the Litbangyasa Serpong Nuclear Zone, located in the Research Centre for Science and Technology (PUSPIPTEK), Serpong. The main facility here is the 30 MW Multipurpose Reactor GA. Siwabessy (RSG-GAS), but also there are the Centre for Reactor Technology and Nuclear Safety (PTRKN), Centre for Development of Nuclear Informatics (PPIN), Nuclear Device Engineering Centre (NEDC), Radioisotope Radiofarmaka Centre (PRR), Materials Technology Centre for Nuclear Fuel (PTBGN), Radioactive Waste Technology Centre (PTLR), Nuclear Industrial Materials Technology Centre (PTBIN), Centre for Standardization and Nuclear Quality Assurance (PSJMN), and the Centre for Nuclear Technology Partnership (PKTN).
A Government-owned company, PT Batan Teknologi, produces medical and industrial isotopes (including Mo-99) for domestic needs using the facilities in Serpong.
At Yogyakarta, as well as the 100 kW Kartini research reactor there is the Teknologi Accelerator and Process Materials Centre (PTAPB) and the College of Nuclear Technology (STTN). At Bandung the country’s first research reactor was built in 1965, a small Triga mkII which was subsequently boosted to 2 MW, and the site also hosts the Nuclear Materials Technology and Radiometric Centre (PTNBR) where nuclear medicine in the country was established. Friday Market in Jakarta is a larger nuclear establishment, with Isotopes and Radiation Technology Applications Centre (PATIR), Technology Centre for Radiation Safety and Metrology (PTKMR), Nuclear Geology Development Centre (PPGN), Centre for Education and Training, and the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology Dissemination (PDIN).
The country also has front-end capabilities in ore processing, conversion and fuel fabrication, all at a laboratory scale, though PT Batan Teknologi assembles fuel elements for the research reactors using imported US fuel. There have been no experiments in reprocessing, but BATAN operates a radwaste program including for spent fuel from the research reactors.
Uranium
There are some uranium resources in Kalimantan, and possibly West Papua. BATAN in September 2010 quoted 53,000 tonnes as high-cost resources: 29,000 t in West Kalimantan and 24,000 t in Bangka Belitung, including some associated with rare earths in monazite by-product from tin mining.
Nuclear Power in Indonesia
