Nuclear energy is back on the Philippine government’s list of possible
alternatives for power generation in the future, according to the Department of
Energy (DOE), as it faces stiff opposition from environmentalists and various
militant groups.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho
L. Petilla stressed that even before he was appointed to his current position,
he was already looking at nuclear energy as a possible power source option.
“We’re looking at it on a
long-term basis. We’re counting on [nuclear as an option]. At the same time, we
have to look at the technical side, and then recommend later on if studies show
that it’s good for the country,” Petilla said.
“In the end however, we always
have to [consider] social acceptability. One thing I can guarantee, nuclear
power will have a level playing field, but we just need to take into account
social acceptability,” he added.
Petilla said that it is this
social dimension—or the possible non-acceptance of nuclear energy by the
public—that is currently limiting the government from including it in its
energy mix.
“Nuclear is not in the energy mix
today. The major advantage of nuclear power generation is that it’s
cheap—you’re talking generation of 2.50 pesos to 3 pesos per kilowatt-hour,
compared to today’s generation of 5 pesos a kWh and up. Another advantage of
nuclear is that it’s clean, meaning no emissions,” he further explained.
The energy reform agenda, which
was formulated during the term of Petilla’s predecessor, Cabinet Secretary Jose
Rene D. Almendras, stated that the DOE planned to implement a national nuclear
power programme, and even set 2025 as the target year for the start of
operations of the proposed 2,000-megawatt nuclear facility.
The target will clearly be pushed
back to a later date as the Philippines has not even started with the programme
and is awaiting for advances in technology, particularly those that deal with
safety.
Last year, the Philippine
government was studying the possible conversion of the mothballed 630-megawatt
Bataan nuclear power plant (BNPP) into either a coal-fired or natural gas-fed
facility.
Based on the initial findings of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)—the agency tasked to look for
the technology and fuel type that would best suit the BNPP—a conversion to coal
would be more feasible.
The BNPP was built during the
Marcos era by Westinghouse Electric at a cost of $2.2 billion. It was
mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns, even before it could begin
operations.
The structure is now dilapidated
and outdated.
*US$1=41 pesos
Amy R. Remo
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