PH gears up for nuke energy

Local

IS the Philippines moving closer to nuclear power, or is it heading toward another long debate that never reaches the grid?

Energy planners here laid out a long-term nuclear roadmap during an energy forum on Friday, April 24, setting targets that stretch up to 2050 as the country seeks to reshape its power mix.

Responding to a question on integrating nuclear energy during the forum, Department of Energy–Visayas Director Renante M. Sevilla said the government will roll out nuclear integration through phased development and public education campaigns.

“So by 2032, we should have at least 1,200 megawatts of capacity for nuclear, and by 2050… around 4,800 megawatt capacity," he said.

Sevilla said the DOE organized six clusters to push nuclear planning, including awareness drives for students.

He also said the agency created a dedicated unit to prepare for potential nuclear sites and long-term deployment.

He pointed to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant as a cautionary case, noting that the government completed it but never operated it, leaving it idle and outdated.

Sevilla said officials now revisit those findings as they shape future nuclear policy.

Coincidentally, in a media roundtable discussion a day earlier in Cebu City, Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco pressed a more aggressive push for nuclear energy, warning that the country’s dependence on imported fuel exposes it to global shocks.

Cojuangco discussed House Bill No. 8567, which proposes incentives to accelerate nuclear development in the power sector.

"For decades, we have relied on energy sources that leave us vulnerable to global shocks and volatile prices. If we are serious about securing a stable and affordable energy future, we must take a clear and deliberate path forward. Nuclear energy must not be just an option; it is a necessity," said Cojuangco,

He also pointed to existing nuclear infrastructure, including the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant, and argued that the country should treat it as a strategic asset.

"We are sitting on valuable infrastructure that can significantly lower electricity costs and reduce our dependence on imported fuels. The question is no longer whether nuclear energy is viable. It is whether we are willing to act," he added.

Cojuangco projected that nuclear energy could reduce electricity prices to around P5.00 per kilowatt-hour, compared with current levels of about P13.82 per kilowatt-hour based on Meralco data.

He said nuclear power could provide stable baseload electricity without greenhouse gas emissions, unlike intermittent renewable sources that require backup systems.

Advocacy group Alpas Pinas supported the push for nuclear energy, citing survey results that showed more than 70 percent of over 7,200 respondents favored nuclear power for its reliability, reduced fuel dependence, job creation, and climate benefits.

The same survey also showed that 76 percent of respondents wanted to learn more about nuclear energy.

Gayle Certeza, Alpas Pinas lead convenor, said the growing support reflects the need to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix, noting that many countries already operate nuclear facilities and that the technology has existed for decades.

Cojuangco also raised the possibility of expanding nuclear deployment in the Visayas, saying Cebu could play a central role in supplying regional power needs.

But critics strongly pushed back, as early as October last year, when Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Jefferson Chua warned that the government’s nuclear push exposes the country to serious risks and downplayed assurances of safety.

“This is beyond alarming. The government is misleading the public by rushing into nuclear energy and dressing it up as safe, when in truth it exposes Filipinos to grave risks," he said in a statement after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12305, establishing the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.

Chua said communities and environmental groups have opposed nuclear energy for decades and have raised their concerns through proper channels, but he said these have been disregarded by decision-makers.

He also said the proposed “Philippine Nuclear Safety Act” reflects what he described as a long-standing pattern of undervaluing public safety and ignoring public opposition.

Chua said the country’s exposure to natural disasters, including frequent typhoons and earthquakes, makes nuclear development highly dangerous.(MyTVCebu)