Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), UAE is looking into alternative clean energy options in Indonesia. The company clarified that it has no plans to build a nuclear power plant, following a statement from Indonesia’s economic affairs ministry that was later amended.
Indonesia initially stated that EGA planned to develop a nuclear power plant with a capacity of up to 5 gigawatts to support an aluminium smelter in North Sumatra. EGA denied this, saying it is not in the nuclear power business. The company confirmed its interest in Indonesia but did not specify details about potential projects.
Indonesia currently does not have nuclear power capacity. The country is working to increase local mineral processing and has been attracting investment in industries such as nickel, copper, and bauxite.
EGA agreed in 2022 to support the expansion of production capacity at the North Sumatra aluminium smelter. The facility is operated by Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, a state-owned company.
Lat week, Indonesia’s Senior Economic Minister, Airlangga Hartarto, met with EGA CEO Abdulnasser Ibrahim Saif Bin Kalban in Dubai. They discussed the development of Indonesia’s aluminium industry. During the visit, Airlangga also met Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of UAE-based renewable energy company Masdar.
Masdar has ongoing renewable energy projects in Indonesia. These include a 145-megawatt floating solar power plant in West Java. The company is also involved in the development of a gas pipeline from Aceh to East Java.
Beyond this, other renewable energy projects are under development in the UAE and Indonesia. In the UAE, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park continues to expand, targeting a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The Barakah nuclear power plant is also being developed to increase low-carbon energy production.
In Indonesia, various wind and solar projects are being explored, including small-scale off-grid solar installations in rural areas. The country is also investing in bioenergy, with biomass and biogas plants being set up in several regions.
