Jakarta, Sep 11 (Xinhua) The Indonesian government will begin the construction of a nuclear power plant in 2010 or 2011 as part of the country's energy diversification programme, a senior official said Monday.

"Accordingly, the tender for the nuclear power plant construction should take place in 2008," Minister of Research and Technology Koesmayanto Kadiman was quoted as saying by news website Detikcom.

"To give effect to this project, the government has established cooperation with countries that own nuclear reactors, such as the United States, South Korea, Japan and Germany," he added.

The nuclear power plant is expected to begin operations in 2016-17, Kadiman said in a hearing with legislators here.