Kepco study shows BNPP rehab may be feasible

THE rehabilitation of the mothballed 630-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) may be highly feasible, based on the official verification reports submitted by Korea Electric Power Co. to National Power Corp.

According to a government official privy to the matter, Kepco’s verification report involved the inspection of the facilities and equipment of the BNPP to determine whether they were already obsolete or could still be used for possible operations.

“Most of the facilities are okay and can still be used, according to Kepco’s official report, although some of the equipment are already for replacement and some are for further testing,” said the government official, who declined to be named.

The verification report is part of the feasibility study being undertaken by Kepco and its local unit, Kepco Philippines, as part of the memorandum of understanding they signed with Napocor in November 2008.

The MOU was aimed at pursuing bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear power plant operation, maintenance and rehabilitation.

The Napocor-Kepco MOU, which is nonexclusive, is valid for three years and covers, among other provisions, “activities related to the feasibility of the possible rehabilitation of the BNPP.”

However, Kepco has yet to submit the results of the feasibility study on the possible rehabilitation of the $2.3-billion BNPP. Napocor earlier said it expected Kepco to submit the full report within this month.

Built in 1980s, the BNPP is the country’s first nuclear power plant. However, it was not allowed to operate because of various concerns on its safety, disposal of nuclear wastes as well as charges of overpricing. It was also met with extreme opposition from various militant and environment groups.

Congress, however, is still debating on a bill seeking to revive the BNPP at a cost of another $1 billion.

Should the government abandon its plan to rehabilitate the BNPP but still pursue a nuclear power program, the government official said Napocor might develop the BNPP into a training center .

The training center will be used by a so-called nuclear core group that will explore opportunities to put up future nuclear power plants in the country.

“It would be more expensive to dismantle the facility anyway,” the official added.

Napocor earlier said it was targeting to submit by May next year its own recommendations for the BNPP for the next administration to consider. These recommendations will be based on Kepco’s feasibility report. –Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer