By means of Almira Louise S. MartinezReporter
A commercially operational power plant by 2032 could be achieved through the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a congressman said Monday.
As stated in the Philippine Nuclear Energy Roadmapthe country wants to include nuclear power plants in the energy mix by introducing at least 1,200 megawatts and gradually increasing this to 4,800 megawatts by 2050.
Chairman of the House Committee on Nuclear Energy and Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Marcos Juan Bruno O. Cojuangco said this goal is unattainable unless the government strives to make the BNPP operational.
“They haven’t even identified what kind of nuclear power plant they want to buy,” he told BusinessWorld. “If they told me that they will run the Bataan nuclear power plant in 2032, I would believe them because it is 100% complete,” he added.
According to Mr. Cojuangco, reopening the power plant, which was shut down in 1986, would take four to five years. “Bataan can supply 620 megawatts, and you can build the three AP-1000 there, each of which can supply 1100 megawatts for a total capacity of 3920.”
Since the closure of BNPP, the government has tried different energy sources, such as wind, solar and geothermal energy. The head of the commission pointed out that these technologies have failed to provide the country with sufficient power for the past 38 years.
“They need to increase their ambitions in nuclear energy, a clean but reliable source that is cheap,” he said.
Mr. Cojuangco pointed out that the AP-1000 of Westinghouse Electric Company, APR-1000 of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) and Canada’s CANDU 6 are the three easily supplied nuclear power plants suitable for the country. .
“If there will be a limitation in developing nuclear energy in the Philippines, it will be our financial capacity to finance it.”
The Philippines and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). October 7 to start the BNPP feasibility study by January 2025.
The study will be divided into two phases: an assessment of the current condition of the plant and an evaluation of its viability.
“KHNP may recommend alternative options, including the construction of a conventional power plant or the development of a small modular reactor,” the Department of Energy (DOE) said.
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The promise of power: the Bataan nuclear power plant