As we already know that the main fuel for fission reactions is uranium. According to geologists, uranium is among the mining products that first formed on this earth. Uranium was formed in the Cambrian period around 3,900 million years ago. Presumably at that time also formed copper, gold, and nickel. Uranium from mining consists of isotope U-235 and isotope U-23 8, both of which have a very long half-life.

Each radioactive substance has a half-life, that is, the time needed to decay so that the amount of the radioactive substance remains half the original amount. The half-life is also often called Tl / 2 (T-half). U-238, which has the longest half-life, has children down by 20 isotopes. In this case, the last and stable offspring is lead or Plumbum, Pb-206. U-235 has 1 isotope down children and the last descendant is also lead, but another isotope, Pb207.

Apart from mining, uranium is also widely available in the earth's crust. In small concentrations, uranium can be found anywhere, on rocks, in soil, rivers, and also at sea.

Even uranium can also be found in the food cycle and in the human body, although in very small amounts. The concentration of uranium from mining products in quantity is determined by the location of the mine. However, in general uranium is found in granite rock which is around 60% in the earth's crust. The concentration ranges from 4 ppm.


Uranium deposits in Indonesia are mostly found in Kalimantan, West Sumatra, the southern coast of Java, Sulawesi and Papua. Of the several places that have been explored are deposits located in the Kalan area, West Kalimantan. It is estimated that the amount of uranium reserves in Kalimantan is around 59,000 tons. In Papua there is also uranium which is estimated to be greater than uranium in Kalimantan.

If it is assumed that the total uranium in Kalimantan can be exploited, it can be used as a fuel source for a 1,000 Megawatt nuclear power plant for approximately 300 years. If Indonesia builds four nuclear power plants in 2025, with a power of 1,000 Megawatts each, uranium in Kalimantan can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants for 75 years.

In order to be more efficient, Indonesia could build four types of Pressurized water reactor types by 2025. In the next stage, Indonesia would build a breeder • reactor type nuclear power plant. Used fuel from four nuclear power plants built in 2025 is used as new fuel for breeder nuclear power plants. reactor. Thus, we can save nuclear fuel and reduce the waste of radioactive substances.


When the uranium in Kalimantan runs out, we can use ranium in Papua. Thus, we can use NPP with domestic uranium production for the long term.

The natural wealth in the form of uranium has so far only been at the exploration stage, not yet to the level of exploitation. This is because until now Indonesia does not have a nuclear power plant. The research reactor owned by Indonesia only requires relatively little uranium, because the power is also relatively. small. Thus for now, Indonesia buys uranium from abroad because it is economically cheaper.

Uranium as a mineral that has not been used maximally will be an alternative energy source in the future. This is because the fuel and gas reserves in Indonesia are relatively small. If fuel and gas are used up, we need nuclear power plants to meet national electricity needs. at that time, the exploitation of uranium in Indonesia must have been carried out.