Bataan power plant conversion sought

REPORTED meltdowns of the nuclear reactors of Japanese power plants in the wake of an 8.9-magnitude earthquake late last week prompted a lawmaker over the weekend to seek the conversion of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) into a natural gas-fired energy generator.

Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list cited that the effects of the said tremor on Japan’s nuclear power plants have proven to be the strongest argument against the revival of the BNPP.

She explained that the conversion of the BNPP into a natural gas-fired energy generator could be the safest and cheapest way to use the P2.3-billion Marcos-era facility.

“Filipinos can still hope for an efficient and a safer power source at cheaper cost if we can transform the BNPP into a natural gas plant,” the lawmaker said.

In light of such, she urged the House Committee on Energy to junk any measure seeking to revive the BNPP.

Herrera-Dy cited that proponents of the said measure to revive the BNPP often cited Japanese nuclear power plants as models of safe and cost-effective energy generation.

“The March 11 quake in Japan has proven these claims to be false.
Taking the side of caution is a correct move, nuclear power is not for us,” the lawmaker, however, said.

Moreover, she said that since the BNPP lies near the Philippine Fault and the West Luzon Fault, there is a strong likelihood that seismic activity might occur in the area and also trigger possible radiation leaks.

The previous Fourteenth Congress was inches away from passing House Bill 6300 which provided for the allocation of funds for the conduct of a feasibility study on the upgrading and activation of the BNPP to solve the country’s then energy problems.

A similar measure for the conduct of a study on the BNPP reactivation is currently pending before the House energy panel.

On the other hand, several lawmakers cited that the threats posed by Japan’s nuclear power plants after the tremor would not stop the lower chamber from continuing deliberations on measures set to determine the viability of reviving the BNPP.

Earlier, Rep. Kimi Cojuangco of Pangasinan filed House Bill 1291, which proposes a validation process that would satisfy accepted nuclear power industry norms to determine whether the BNPP should be rehabilitated and operated or closed permanently.

Reps. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental and Irwin Tieng of Buhay party-list—members of the House committee on energy chaired by Rep. Henedina Abad of Batanes—said the panel has no other alternative but to continue deliberations on the bill.

Benitez and Tieng, however, admitted that the Japan earthquake and the reported meltdown of nuclear reactors there could serve as a strong argument against the activation of the BNPP.

Tieng said that while there has been a number of evidence vouching for the safety of the BNPP, the Japan incident would douse cold water to such claims.

“We have to decide what to do with the Bataan power plant as soon as possible. Our inability to offer cheap electricity has kept investors away but safety remains a priority issue that must be addressed,” Tieng said.

Both admitted that safety would be a primordial concern that will be considered by the House panel.

Cojuangco is a neophyte solon from Pangasinan’s fifth district who replaced her husband, former Rep. Mark Cojuangco, a staunch advocate of the activation of the BNPP, which has never been used since its completion in 1984. –RUBEN D. MANAHAN 4TH, Manila Times

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