To cope with the fast-growing demand for power supply in the country, Indonesia is considering building nuclear power plants with an initial capacity of 5,000 MW by 2025 despite massive opposition at home.

A senior official of Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said that to pursue 7 percent economy growth by 2018 targeted by the government, it needs 9 percent growth in power supply.

"By 2017, national power supply is targeted at 85,000 Mega Watt. At present we only have 50,000 MW. So we still have 35,000 MW short of power supply," director general for electricity of the ministry Jarman said on Thursday.

He said that nuclear power plant remains a viable option to cover power shortage across the country. The present government has set the target of building power plants with a total capacity of 35,000 MW within five years of its effective governing period.

The government is still considering the technology used to build the nuclear power plant, with technology offered by Russia expected to take the first place, he said.

Jarman said that the government would give priority to the safety concern in building nuclear power plant, a focal issue highlighted by opponents who insist such facility is not environment-friendly and is dangerous for earthquake-prone Indonesia.

A visiting Russian delegation offered cooperation in building a nuclear power plant in Indonesia during their meeting with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday.

In September this year, Russian energy firm Rosatom offered assistance to the Indonesian government to build a nuclear power plant in Indonesia's Batam island with a capacity of 1,200 MW, which will cost 9 billion U.S. dollars.

Indonesia initially planned to build a nuclear power plant in 1997 but annulled the idea the same year due to economic and political crisis that occurred in the country.

The nuclear power plant program was resumed in 2005 with a designated site near Kudus city in Central Java.

The program encountered strong opposition from thousands of environmentalists and locals in June 2007.

Source: Xinhua News Agency