Researchers from the Doctoral Program on Environmental Science, Graduate School, Universitas Padjadjaran, including Heni Susiati, Moh. Dede, and Prof. Sunardi, collaborated with national and international experts to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric review of nuclear power plant (NPP) siting research. Analyzing 464 Scopus-indexed publications spanning 1968 to 2024, the team identified four primary thematic clusters: reactor safety/design, environmental impacts and siting, seismic risk evaluation, and radioactive waste management. They traced publication trends and spotlighted the rising importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)—especially Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)—as central methodological advances for NPP siting, notably since 2016. Their findings revealed that while the United States dominates the field with 94 publications, Indonesia ranks ninth with 13, yet remains relatively isolated in research collaborations, highlighting potential for broader international cooperation.

This scholarly mapping of NPP siting research provides valuable insights for enhancing energy infrastructure planning in alignment with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by guiding safer and more strategic nuclear energy deployment. By emphasizing environmental impact assessment, it helps uphold SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through informed, ecologically sensitive site selection. Furthermore, the study aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by urging strengthened global collaborations to advance multi-disciplinary methodologies—such as integrating GIS and MCDM—for effective, transparent decision-making in energy transitions.