Gov’t Eyes Nuke Energy to Address Power Shortage

Manila Bulletin

October 1, 2010, 8:53am

MANILA, Sept. 30 (PNA) -- The government will study the feasibility of using nuclear energy in addressing a foreseen power shortage in the country.

In a media briefing in Malacañang, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the Department of Energy (DOE) is now working for the approval of some P50-million budget for the study on nuclear technology.

“If that is approved, hopefully we can start that next year,” Almendras said.

Almendras said the Philippine study is in line with the commitment of member countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to implement activities on the peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy when he attended the 28th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Da Lat, Viet Nam last July.

“The study we want to do is non-military use of nuclear energy. This is really along the lines of something that we agreed to with the rest of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Da Lat where we agreed with all the ministers of energy that we would like to work together in preparing the safety standards for non-military nuclear use,” Almendras said.

Almendras said the ASEAN energy ministers would finalize the terms of reference for the base consultancy in the upcoming 29th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Brunei Darussalam to be scheduled about July or August next year.

“So the resources that we will get if our budget is approved will actually help us in working with the rest of the ASEAN in determining the parameters or guidelines in nuclear energy use,” Almendras said.

During the recent US trip of President Benigno S. Aquino III, Almendras said several groups have expressed interest in building a nuclear power plant, including the rehabilitation of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. But he told them the Philippines still has to review its national policy on the use of nuclear energy.

“There were interests to try to bring nuclear energy to the Philippines but I have to let them know that we have not yet resolved the question of whether we are going to be open to it or not,” Almendras said.

Earlier, the DOE called for the efficient use of energy, including the tapping of other renewable sources of energy, projecting that the country will likely experience a power shortage as early as 2015. (PNA)