Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star)
- March 6, 2020 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Despite
growing opposition, the push for nuclear energy’s inclusion in the energy mix
will help ensure the country’s energy security and address possible future
power emergencies, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
“It is something that’s not
necessary now but we need this for energy security. Nuclear will not replace
any technology in the energy mix, it is just (something we need to) have when
certain extreme emergencies happen,” Cusi said.
With at least two years remaining in
the Duterte administration, the Department of Energy (DOE) will continue to
push for the development of several technologies, including nuclear, to meet
the country’s power demands.
“It’s not that I will devote (the
last two years of my term for nuclear). I will devote it to what is needed to
improve the power infrastructure so we can serve the Filipino better. We are
looking at the 2024, 2030 requirements. We need to build up those
requirements,” Cusi said.
During last Monday’s Cabinet meeting
in Malacañang, Cusi proposed to include nuclear power in the Philippines’
energy mix to meet growing electricity demand.
This as Cusi submitted in 2018 a
proposed national policy on nuclear energy to President Duterte for approval.
The proposed national position not
only covers the use of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) but
also the development of modular nuclear power plants across the country.
Presidential spokesman Salvador
Panelo said Duterte would study the energy chief’s proposal.
“We already submitted the national
position and once that’s approved, we can proceed to lay down the regulatory
and legal framework,” Cusi said.
However, the DOE will also lay down
the groundwork that will pave the way for nuclear power development while
waiting for the President’s clearance.
“We are continuously working on the
19 infrastructure issues to meet those requirements. That’s why we formed
Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO),” Cusi said.
The Philippines–through NEPIO–has
been working on completing the country’s nuclear assessment based on the 19
issues laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The list includes forming a national
position, a wide stakeholder participation, laying down the policy of legal
frameworkm consultation of all related industries to nuclear, creating a
regulatory framework, compliance with safety requirement, ensuring security,
proper waste disposal, radiation protection, emergency planning, environmental
protection and financing, source of fuel, grid capability, procurement
and management of the plant.
However, energy think-tank Center
for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) urged President Duterte to reject the
proposal for the issuance of an executive order (EO) for the inclusion of
nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix.
CEED said nuclear energy would only
be an obstruction to the development of truly reliable and safe electricity
from renewables and would unnecessarily expose Filipinos to extreme risks.
“We are all aware of the nuclear
disasters of Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima. We need not grant
nuclear energy the opportunity to wreak the same havoc upon Filipinos,
especially in this worsening climate change situation,” CEED executive director
Gerry Arances said.
Arances also expressed concern
over the financial burden nuclear energy will impose on consumers.
“It would also expose consumers to
more costly electricity, because fuel used to generate nuclear power would have
to be imported. Entertaining the exploration of nuclear technology is nothing
but a distraction that would keep us from tapping the 250 GW of electricity
that the Department of Energy itself said can be gleaned from renewable
energy,” he said.
Bishop Gerry Alminaza of the
Diocese of San Carlos, a vocal advocate of renewable energy, also expressed his
opposition to the said proposal.
“I am greatly concerned about the
proposed Executive Order said to be drafted by Secretary Al Cusi which would
include nuclear power in our energy mix. Instead of empowering our people,
energy from nuclear activities threatens human life and the lives of creatures
big and small,” he said.
Alminaza reminded the President of
his directive just last year that was warmly welcomed by groups promoting clean
energy.
“We hope and pray that President
Rodrigo Duterte will not turn back on his word in the 2019 SONA which charged
the DOE with the task of promoting renewable energy, a cheaper and safer source
of energy compared to the possible holocaust risked with nuclear power,” he
said.
“We urge President Duterte not to
sign this EO and instead reinforce his directive to Secretary Cusi to make
renewables our primary energy source. The issuance of an Executive Order to
fast-track renewable energy development would be much more welcome,” Arances
added.
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