Duterte to Revive Bataan Power Plant, Faces backlash From Ex-Spokesperson

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order to include nuclear power in the Philippines’ energy mix as the government aims to phase out coal-fired power plants. The order was initially brought to the president last Feb. 28 and was made public on Thursday. Officials believe that this project could be a milestone for the economy as it suffers from seasonal outages and high electricity prices.

The order directs an inter-agency panel to look into reopening the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) “The national government commits to the introduction of nuclear power energy into the state’s energy mix,” it stated.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi supports the move as he states that it could help ease supply issues and high costs.

According to Duterte, the plant is a viable alternative power source as the country seeks to retire its coal plants to help achieve its climate goals.

The BNPP was closed in 1986 due to safety concerns following the infamous Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Since 2009, the BNPP has operated as a tourist attraction to help fund the cost of its maintenance.

“The Duterte administration is about to leave a tarred legacy and is setting us up for another horror story like Chernobyl and Fukushima,” Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu said, referring to the world’s worst nuclear disasters.

According to Gerardo Erguiza Jr., the country’s Energy Undersecretary, a regulatory framework for nuclear power is required as the plant’s future hinges on the agenda of the next administration.

“I have nothing against nuclear power since most developed nations have relied on nuclear energy to generate electricity. It is emission-free and environment-friendly unlike traditional sources of power such as coal,” said senatorial candidate Harry Roque.

“My foremost concern is the site of BNPP,” he added.

Roque notes that the people of Bataan have expressed their concerns about the power plant as he states that the revival project could be harmful to the public and the country’s ecology.

“Why do we want to reactivate an old power plant built on a site prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?” Roque asked.

“Why don’t we rely more on common sense and build a more technologically advanced plant somewhere safer?”

Source: Philstar, Reuters