UNS—Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta establishes a collaboration with PT ThorCon Power Indonesia. Both parties agree to conduct a public acceptance survey for the partnership. The survey focuses on gauging the public perception of the development of a nuclear power plant (PLTN) in Indonesia.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Cooperation Agreement were signed on Thursday (22/5/2025) in Meeting Room 1 of the dr. Prakosa Building at UNS. The documents were signed by UNS Vice-Rector for Planning, Cooperation, Internationalization, and Information, Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D.; the dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNS, Dr. Didik Gunawan Suharto, S.Sos., M.Si.; and the Director of Operations and Head of Human Resources at PT ThorCon Power Indonesia, Dhita Karunia Ashari.
Remarks from UNS and PT ThorCon Power Indonesia
In his remarks, Prof. Irwan appreciated the realization of the collaboration. “This collaboration is a shared commitment to support research and energy development. It also marks the continuation of our previous cooperation that began in 2021,” he stated.
Furthermore, Dr. Didik Gunawan Suharto, S.Sos., M.Si., the Dean of FISIP UNS, emphasized the purpose of the collaboration. He stated that the partnership aims to gather comprehensive data and insights on public perception. This collaboration includes public perception, understanding, and acceptance of Indonesia’s nuclear power plant development plan. The survey is expected to provide a valid foundation for the national atomic energy project policymaking. In addition, the survey will also support the design of effective public communication strategies to enhance public understanding and acceptance.
“This collaboration is a tangible contribution from UNS to national development grounded in scientific research. We believe that the success of nuclear power plant development depends on technological aspects and how well the public can understand and accept its benefits,” Dr. Didik added.
Moreover, Dhita, the Director of Operations and Head of Human Resources at PT ThorCon Power Indonesia mentioned the importance of social mapping in the early stages of nuclear power plant development. “Public acceptance is one of the key factors in successfully implementing nuclear power plants. Therefore, we hope this collaboration will provide deeper insights into the public’s concerns, expectations, and perspectives regarding nuclear energy,” she hoped.
The Urgency of The Collaboration
The survey will involve a multidisciplinary research team from UNS, particularly from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP). The targeted locations will focus on areas being considered as potential sites for the nuclear power plant. “We hope this survey can help mitigate the risk of resistance in the area (Bangka Belitung) where the project is planned,” Dhita added.
The collaboration indicates the shared commitment of both institutions to support a clean and sustainable energy transition in Indonesia. It also tries to prioritize public participation and understanding as key components of the development process. Besides, it aligns with the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): Sustainable Cities and Communities.
“We believe that the collaboration between industry and academia will accelerate the development of relevant and applicable innovations in the field of nuclear energy. UNS has outstanding research capacity and human resources,” she concluded.
Humas UNS
