CCPI urges gov’t to revive Bataan nuclear plant

The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) is urging the government to immediately adopt the use of nuclear energy by reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) to support the country’s competitiveness globally.

However, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it has yet to ascertain the power plant’s viability to ensure safety the use of the 32-year-old power facility.

In its policy recommendation, CCPI said the immediate adoption of nuclear power and operation of BNPP would help create jobs and alleviate poverty, as well as improve the quality of life with lower electricity cost.

“The mothballed BNPP since 1984 can add over 600 megawatts (MW) of electric power to the Philippine grid when made operational… The chamber supports the operation of the nuclear power plant in Bataan to accelerate the economic progress of the country through industrialization,” the country’s first and oldest business group said.

According to CCPI, nuclear energy is the cheapest source of electricity since it is 79 percent cheaper than oil, 78 percent cheaper than gas and 23 percent cheaper than coal.

Investors have shied away from investing in job-creating industries since electricity tariff is among the highest rates in Asia as this “impairs business and industry to set-up and operate competitively,” the chamber said.

On the issue of safety of nuclear energy, CCPI said 31 countries operate nuclear power plants while 65 nuclear power plants are being constructed.

For the BNPP, the chamber cited its sister-clone plants operating safely in Korea, Slovenia and Brazil for over 30 years which are examples of its safety.

“The Bataan site was chosen after extensive research and is on high ground that cannot be reached by tsunami,” CCPI said.

However, Energy Secretary Cusi said an in-depth study must still be done before actually using BNPP to thresh out all issues linked to its use.

“That’s the duty of DOE, to really study, explore all the possible sources of energy that can bring down the cost so we can have a secured, sustainable, reliable and affordable supply,” he said.

“Whatever it is, we have to put a closure (on BNPP) because that has been there for the last 40 years and it is costing the Filipino people money,” Cusi said.