Speaking at a conference on nuclear power here, Sriwidjaja said Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, was "preparing to operate a nuclear power plant by most likely in the next decade."

Like Iran, which the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agencyis investigating on US charges that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons, Indonesia is a major oil producer.

Nevertheless, Sriwidjaja said Indonesia is having difficulties meeting its domestic energy demand. "The oil and gas reserves in Indonesia are insufficient to balance the rapidly increasing demand for energy, particularly in the form of electricity," he said.

An IAEA-supported study found that Indonesia needs an energy mix "in which the contribution of oil should be reduced and replaced by gas, coal, renewable energy and other alternative energy, including nuclear energy," Sriwidjaja said.

He said Indonesia was seeking help from developed nuclear states in technology, investment and research and would fight anti-nuclear sentiment with a public information program.

Indonesia has also implemented anti-terrorist measures to protect its nuclear research facilities.

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