Fight to revive BNPP continues

What her husband began, Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco hopes to continue— fight to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Cojuangco is the wife of former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, the author and sponsor of the bill seeking to rehabilitate the BNPP that sits in a 357-hectare government land in Morong, Bataan. The construction of the BNPP began in 1976. By the time the construction was stopped in 1984, the government had spent $2.3 billion. The BNPP reactor was capable of holding 1878 megawatts of heat energy and would have generated approximately 621 megawatts of electricity. A subsequent investigation, however, revealed 4,000 defects or problems, with the primary concern being that the BNPP is only nine kilometers away from a dormant volcano called Mt. Natib, which stands between the Philippine Fault and the West Luzon Fault. Those opposed to the revival of the BNPP say seismic activity could cause the plant operation to be unsafe. Cojuangco says the legislation she filed, House Bill 1291, seeks not only the rehabilitation of the BNPP but is also calling for a validation process “which satisfies internationally accepted nuclear power industry norms to determine the BNPP’s operability culminating in either the immediate rehabilitation, certification and commercial operation or the immediate permanent closure and salvage value recovery" of the same. In the explanatory note to the 15th Congress about HB 1291, Cojuangco admitted that her proposed measure contains the “distilled essence of what was discussed during the period of interpellation and debate during the 14th Congress." “This proposed measure incorporates adjustments to what he (Mark Cojuangco) then perceived were the sensitivities of the discussions as brought forth by those with a dissenting point of view," she says. The legislation filed by her husband in the previous Congress, House Bill 4631, subsequently evolved into HB 6300 after it was approved by the Committee on Energy and referred to the plenary for second reading. However, it was not acted upon due to lack of quorum. The former Pangasinan representative was infuriated with this. “It is trust that it will now give the sense and the purpose of this new piece of legislation, as well as incorporate the sensitivities and compromises which were arrived at during the lengthy discussions of the merits thereof," she says. Cojuangco says the new bill is much more straightforward and captures the sentiments and concerns of a broader range of stakeholders and citizens. She says a national debate about nuclear power is timely because a power crisis may happen in two or three years. Rotating brownouts were already experienced in several areas in the country this year. The lawmaker says a power crisis could put a cap on any economic development and growth the country could have due to the newly found political stability, confidence and positive outlook of the new administration. She asks lawmakers to study the matter well so that they can debate the issue intelligently and without emotion. “Let the Members endeavor to bring this discussion to a higher level," Cojuangco says. Under the Cojuangco bill, the National Power Corporation will review the original plans and specifications, build documentation, conduct an inspection, and assess the plant based on international standards. The bill says, if the Napocor will give the BNPP a “go," the immediate rehabilitation, repair, construction and other activities including and all necessary work will proceed. A “hot function test" for a period equal to 1 1/2 times the internationally recognized standards will be conducted. Operating certificates from the regulatory authority will be obtained. Only after all of these are accomplished, will the BNPP be loaded with nuclear fuel and activated, the bill adds. On the other hand, if the Napocor gives the BNPP a “no go" or deems that the facility did not pass the standards, the BNPP will be permanently closed and its assets will be disposed through public bidding within one year or, at the minimum, the public funding for its maintenance will be cut. The bill also states that under no circumstances will the disposed assets will be used for the operation of another nuclear power plant in the country. –VVP, GMANews.TV