In Morong stands the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) that was completed in 1984 but has remained non-operational. However, as the climate crisis worsens, calls are being made to utilize cleaner sources of energy, with nuclear energy being one of them.
Recent developments are also very encouraging for the future adoption or utilization of nuclear energy in the Philippines, and that may include reviving and operating the BNPP.
This, as the Department of Energy (DOE) is targeting to get 1,200 megawatts (MW) of installed power capacity from nuclear resources using small modular reactor (SMR) technologies by 2032.
Also, Pangasinan Second District Representative Mark Cojuangco, an advocate for nuclear energy and recipient of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Distinguished Public Service Award, recently conducted public consultation at San Jose, Occidental Mindoro to open the conversation on nuclear energy as a potential solution to the long-standing power crisis in the province.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said that the roll out of nuclear energy technology is already sure, and the government is aiming for 1,200 MW to be generated by 2032 utilizing SMRs.
He added the government remains open to all technologies that will supply the growing power demand of the country in the coming years.
“The commercial roll out of certain nuclear technologies are going to be there... We can start planning for 2032 at the earliest. From the figures, you can see these are modest figures, 1,200 (MW) by 2032,” the DOE chief.
The potential capacity would come from eight 150-MW SMRs. Also, an additional 1,200 MW capacity is being eyed by 2035 and another 2,400 MW by 2050.
To help achieve that, the Manila Electric Company has partnered with American firm Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) to explore the potential of establishing micro-modular reactors in the country.
AboitizPower Corp. is also exploring collaborations with NuScale Power Corp. and USNC in this sector.
Aside from the latest SMR technologies, the DOE is studying the viability of conventional nuclear reactors like the existing BNPP.
The DOE is in also talks with the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) for a more comprehensive feasibility study for the BNPP. The feasibility study with KHNP will determine if the government should pursue BNPP as a nuclear energy source in the future.
Meanwhile, around 12 sites, mostly in the western parts of the country, are being studied for future locations of nuclear power facilities.
Nuclear power for Mindoro
For his part, Cojuangco, as part of the project of the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy by the House of Representatives, held a consultation focused on the decade-long energy crisis that Occidental Mindoro is facing, hindering the province’s economic growth. It also aimed to address misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy and underscore its benefits.
“It is now the time that we realize that we should be in control of the power and energy we use, not the other way around. If we continue tolerating this dire situation, there will be no room for progress. With nuclear energy, the chance for development will be for all,” said Cojuangco.
According to Mindoro’s electric cooperative, their total electricity demand in 2023 was 151 million kilowatt-hours Given the increasing demand, even sourcing electricity from the Luzon grid is not enough to sustain this.
Cojuangco also discussed the reliability of nuclear energy, emphasizing how this source can stand on its own without needing any backup, unlike renewable energy, which still requires coal as a backup power source. He also highlighted that nuclear energy is a cleaner alternative as it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, making it a viable solution to address climate change in the country.
“All these benefits are understated. The potential of nuclear energy extends far beyond providing a reliable power source; it is a catalyst for economic transformation. By embracing nuclear energy, we not only address Occidental Mindoro's immediate power crisis but pave the way for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and a brighter future for the province. Through informed discussions and collaborative efforts,” Cojuangco said.
The public consultation was attended by local officials and the citizens of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Cojuangco is eyeing to visit more provinces like Isabela, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Zamboanga Del Sur and Saranggani.
Dispelling disinformation on nuclear energy
Lotilla stressed that the government will ensure that the safety concerns on nuclear energy technologies will be addressed first before putting up nuclear power plants.
“Let’s be open to all technologies. What we want to set are standards. Like your concern, it’s standard for safety, standards for regulation. So that’s why it is important that the law that Congress has to pass on nuclear safety will be in place before all these things can come in,” the DOE chief stressed.
This, as misinformation continues to shape public views on the use of nuclear energy in the country, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said.
The senator cited the need to change this through a proper education campaign.
During the hearing on the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Cayetano, he urged the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to continue its efforts to make the public aware of the potential benefits that nuclear energy can provide.
"Continue to educate us not only on the need for the regulatory framework but also for the future of atomic or nuclear energy in our country," Cayetano said addressing Dr. Carlo Arcilla of DOST-PNRI.
In a presentation, Arcilla outlined the benefits of nuclear energy not only as a power source but also for medical, industrial, and agricultural purposes.
“The problem in pushing for nuclear energy is fake news. Whenever nuclear is mentioned, people always think about the bomb,” he said.
The challenge now, Cayetano said, is changing the public's perception and eventually accepting nuclear energy use in the country.
The proposed Philippine Nuclear Regulation Act aims to establish the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) as an independent body tasked with licensing facilities utilizing radioactive materials, including hospitals with radiology services, and ensuring the safe and secure utilization of nuclear energy in the country.
Cayetano clarified to the public that the goal of PhilATOM is to establish an institution with the necessary expertise to assess the use of nuclear energy in the country.
“We're not saying that we're promoting or not promoting nuclear energy. What we're saying is [we are] putting a regulatory body which can assess the safety of the use of nuclear power in the country,” he said.
It was also clarified during the hearing that PhilATOM's scope is limited to regulatory functions, with research responsibilities remaining under the DOST-PNRI.
Highlighting the urgency of establishing PhilATOM without delay to leverage its potential benefits, Cayetano pledged to expedite the bill's deliberation on the Senate plenary.
