During an official visit to Indonesia this month, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei met with Indonesia´s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other senior governmental officials on a range of issues, including the country´s plans to introduce nuclear power for electricity production.
"In 2004, Indonesia and the Agency completed a technical cooperation project to analyse the country´s overall energy system and assess nuclear power options," Dr. ElBaradei said in Jakarta. "We are currently supporting Indonesia´s preparation for its planned nuclear power plant construction." He visited Indonesia from 7-9 December 2006.
The Director General noted that Indonesia has been a strong and supportive partner of the IAEA. On the non-proliferation front, Indonesia is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, with both a comprehensive safeguards agreement and an additional protocol in force. In the field of safety and security, Indonesia is a party to international conventions under the Agency´s auspices. Additionally, Indonesia has been a full participant of the Asian Nuclear Safety Network, a regional initiative.
The IAEA has a large and active technical cooperation programme in Indonesia. Projects include those related to health, water resources, and food production, for example. For example, the IAEA has been supporting the establishment of the first radiotherapy centre in Kalimantan, which should become operational next year and will be a great asset in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Other projects have focused on developing hardier crops, including rice varieties with improved tolerance for saline soil.