National Power Corp (Napocor) president Froilan Tampinco said that they deem one of their most important thrust is to develop nuclear energy to ensure the energy security of the country. But they said further that they will pursue only this once the government mandates it via legislation.
In line with this is their decision to recommend the recommissioning of the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) that has received much flack from different sectors when a bill was introduced in Congress by representative Mark Cojuangco to fund its recommissioning.
The Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) has been invited to submit a cost estimate on the rehabilitation of the BNPP. They had initially submitted a feasibility study to Napocor which recommended that it is feasible to recommission the plant but it lacked the cost element and timetable of completion. I can’t fathom how a report can say that a project is feasible without the cost estimate included???
The Philippines is said to have over 4,531 MW in Geothermal capacity, 13,097 MW in Hydro electric and 76,600 MW of Wind in its total renewable energy capacity. So why go for something that is hazardous, prone to corruption and subject to such public opposition?
Aside from the fear of possible corruption during construction and nuclear related disaster caused by both natural and unnatural sources, there is the environmental impact of disposing of the spent nuclear fuel rods from operation of the nuclear power plant.
[source]
Category: Nuclear
