Multi-criteria decision making for nuclear power plant selection using fuzzy AHP: Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

In terms of planning aspect, nuclear power plant (NPP) development needs analyses, consideration, and right decision making due to multi criteria involved. This study prioritizes the best site development of Indonesian NPPs in terms of 21 social, economic, and technical perspectives which comprise transmission network, operating cost, economic impact, geology, geotechnic, seismology, population density, environment, cooling water, meteorology, hydrology, proximity to hazardous facilities, topography, land use, proximity to wetland, evacuation route, security, transportation network, legal consideration, impact of tourism, land ownership, historical places, and public acceptance, all identified to be considerations for the best sites. Two Fuzzy algorithms (Chang's Extent Analysis and Buckley's Fuzzy AHP) were used to determine the criteria priorities as well as NPP site feasibility of two locations in Indonesia. The results found that geology, geotechnic, and seismology (SA1); security (SO1), population density (SA2), environment (SA3), and cooling water (SA4) had the highest priorities among the 21 criteria. Based on the 5 top priority criteria, West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan provinces serve as the best candidates for the NPP sites. Such an innovative and novel multi criteria Fuzzy AHP – based decision making (MCDM) approach has been proven to become a useful reference to select NPP sites in Indonesia.