Aquino open to nuke energy but not keen on BNPP revival

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino is not closed to the use of nuclear energy to provide the country with adequate power, especially in Mindanao, but is no longer keen on reviving the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant (BNPP) because of the high cost this would entail.

The BNPP was completed in 1984 but was never used. Mr. Aquino’s cousin, former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco, had filed House Bill 4631 seeking to rehabilitate the BNPP.

Cojuangco’s wife Kimi, who succeeded him in Congress, revived the proposal yesterday, filing House Bill 1291 that included some improvements to her husband’s measure.

Mr. Aquino said he is awaiting the recommendations of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras on the use of nuclear energy.

“We are studying the possibility of using nuclear energy as a source of power… There is supposed to be an offer by (a) Korean company or (the) Korean government can assure us of adequate power. As you know Mindanao does not have a quick fix solution on the board yet.”

Asked about the BNPP though, Aquino said, “I’m really bothered. I have a lot of apprehensions with regard to the (Mount) Pinatubo (which) is not that far away and since it’s an active volcano, there are questions about the fault.”

“But more than anything, the testing required for the BNPP, you know, to find out whether or not there were shortcuts made when it was done, it would probably entail a lot of cost… and it will also entail a lot of cost to rectify that which is tested to destruction,” he added.

Rehabilitating the BNPP would cost $1 billion, according to an estimate provided by the Korea Electric Power Corp. to the National Power Corp.

In filing HB 1291, Rep. Cojuangco said she believes that reviving the BNPP “is the only way we can alleviate poverty.”

She said the government must act in a timely and decisive manner to avert a power crisis, which she added “may be upon us in two or three years, by 2012 or 2013.”

She said she has put in some amendments to the new bill to make it more acceptable to those opposing it, including several lawmakers, environmental groups and Catholic bishops, who warned of the possible dangers of having a nuclear plant in the country.

HB 1291 now includes a P100-million “validation process” that would use internationally accepted nuclear power industry standards to determine if the BNPP can be rehabilitated and run safely.

According to the Department of Energy, it would take 10 to 15 years to build up the necessary infrastructure for a nuclear program.

The BNPP, built from 1976 to 1984 for $2.3 billion, was mothballed after the 1986 people power uprising, which overthrew the Marcos regime.

The plant, which would have generated 621 megawatts, was supposed to have over 4,000 defects. It was the country’s single biggest debt item, and taxpayer’s money finally paid it off in 2007.

Under the 2007-2035 Philippine Energy Plan, the country – a net energy importer – must consider a renewed nuclear power program amid the volatility of oil prices. –-Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) with Paolo Romero