Its first experiment with nuclear energy dates to February 1965, when then-president Sukarno inaugurated a test reactor.
Abundant reserves of polluting coal have so far met the enormous archipelago's energy needs.
President Prabowo Subianto has promised to ensure energy security while meeting a pledge to eliminate coal-powered electricity generation within 15 years.
The government wants 40-54GW of the 400GW it projects will be generated nationwide by 2060 to come from nuclear.
It will be a small modular reactor, which has a lower capacity than traditional reactors but is easier to assemble and transport.
“Currently, 29 potential locations have been identified for the construction of nuclear power plants,“ Dadan Kusdiana, acting secretary general of the National Energy Council (DEN) told AFP.
The sites would also put facilities near energy-hungry mining sites.
While Japan's quake and tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster has stalled nuclear progress in some parts of Asia, proponents say nuclear can be done safely in Indonesia.
“These low seismic risk regions also coincide with low volcanic risk regions,“ he added.
While Indonesia may not be alone in the nuclear pivot, it has little domestic expertise to draw on.
The Indonesian subsidiary of US company ThorCon is already seeking a licence for an experimental “molten-salt reactor”.
Kusdiana said DEN has also visited France's EDF SA to explore possible cooperation.
EDF said there were currently “no discussions underway on nuclear with Indonesia,“ though its CEO Bernard Fontana will be part of Macron’s delegation.
'Sceptical'
“I would join others who are sceptical that Indonesia can deploy nuclear power at any significant scale in the next ten years,“ said Andrews-Speed at the Oxford Institute.
While hydroelectric accounts for over seven percent of Indonesia's electricity generation, solar and wind contribute tiny amounts and could be significantly ramped up, experts say.
“There is not enough left in the government and PLN (state electricity company) budget,“ he told AFP.
“Various potential international investors... have shown interest”, including Russia, the United States, Denmark, South Korea and China, he said
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