Study on nuke safety planned

MANILA, Dec. 22 (PIA) — A study on safety standards for nuclear energy will begin next year, the Department of Energy (DoE) said yesterday.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras told reporters the department is awaiting terms of reference for the study from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“We’re going to start the safety standard study for nuclear energy [next year]. The DoE will be the lead agency for this, but we will be working with other agencies and with the ASEAN,” he said.

He added the department will hire foreign consultants for the study and has been provided P100 million for this thrust under its proposed budget for next year.

The proposed 2011 national budget, now being discussed in a bicameral conference committee, is expected to be signed into law before yearend.

The study forms part of the Philippines’ implementation of the ASEAN agreement to provide safety standards for nuclear energy.

The Philippines last July endorsed the ASEAN’s Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network. The network is the body that will guide ASEAN in cooperation on civilian use of nuclear energy.

Under that framework, each ASEAN member nation will undertake its respective nuclear energy safety study.

The DoE had earlier said it has been given the mandate to study the possibility of the country developing its nuclear power generation capability.

Observers, however, have said that the country needs substantial investment in preparations for this energy option, since it still has to develop a sufficient number of experts with advanced studies in this field.

“Nuclear is shifting to smaller, package-sized facilities. You’re really looking at 10 years down the line. It’s going to take a while. We’re not saying we’re going there; we’re saying we need to understand the new technology,” said Almendras. (PIA)