By V. Jagannathan
Moscow, June 2 (IANS): Indonesia's National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) and Russia's State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on development of peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The two organisations signed the MoU at the ATOMEXPO, an international conference and exhibition of nuclear energy being held here, on Monday.

The MoU, signed by Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto, the chairman of BATAN and Kirill Komarov, the first deputy CEO for corporate development and international business of Rosatom, aims at strengthening the cooperation between Indonesia and Russia for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

It also confirms the intentions of the two parties to cooperate in implementing programme to create and develop the national nuclear energy sector of Indonesia.

"We fully support the strong commitment of BATAN to the development of nuclear technologies in Indonesia. Nuclear energy is viable option for this country, and Rosatom is already cooperating closely with BATAN in the project to design and construct an experimental reactor.

"There are many other areas available for the further partnership, and the signed document gives a solid platform needed to bring these opportunities into life", said Komarov at the MoU signing ceremony.

According to the MoU, Rosatom and BATAN will intensify interactions on possibility to implement the Russian nuclear power plant projects in Indonesia.

In April, BATAN declared RENUKO, the Russian-Indonesian consortium with participation of Rosatom subsidiaries, a winner of the tender for the conceptual design of a 10 MW multipurpose experimental high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in Indonesia.