Report: RP invites nuclear experts to inspect Bataan plant
The Philippines has invited nuclear experts from the United States to take a look at the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and see if the 23-year-old facility can still be used. Radio station dzBB reported Monday that the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) invited experts to come over and see if the BNPP can still be harnessed to produce electricity. Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr also said he has written the US-based International Atomic Energy Administration (IAEA) to see if nuclear plants can be set up elsewhere in the Philippines. The Philippines uses geothermal, coal, and hydroelectric power plants as its main sources of energy. The country completed construction of the BNPP in Morong, Bataan in 1984 during the reign of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was but never operated it due to safety concerns after a study found it contained thousands of defects. The 620-megawatt nuclear power plant, built at a cost of more than $2 billion at that time, was mired in controversy over huge cost overruns and alleged kickbacks to government officials. The country was only able to fully pay last April debt payments plus interest incurred for constructing the power plant. Also on June, government scientists said they were "seriously looking" into pushing policy makers to adopt nuclear power as an alternative source of energy. "We're seriously looking into it (having nuclear power plants) because the day will come when we’ll need other sources of energy," said PNRI director Alumanda Dela Rosa. Several sectors opposed the move, saying it may have negative effects on the environment, and will cause devastation in case of an accident. Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz last August rejected government plans to tap nuclear power, saying government does not even know how to deal with the garbage problem. "What will the government do in the event of terrorist attacks directed at the plant? Where will the government throw the nuclear waste?" Cruz asked. For her part, Dela Rosa cited a recommendation by the multi-agency nuclear power steering committee (NPSC) that "nuclear energy will remain as an option that the Philippine government may take in meeting the increasing energy demand in the future, unless other alternative energy systems would come within the framework of availability/sustainability, affordability, and environment compatibility of the energy supply." She added that in considering nuclear power, the focus would be on the development of required skilled personnel. The PNRI official added that nuclear power plants, along with hydroelectric facilities, emit no greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. "Globally, the use of nuclear power and hydroelectric as an alternative to fossil fuels over the past several decades has helped restrain carbon dioxide emissions," Dela Rosa said. - GMANews.TV