Nuclear power to tackle energy crisis

By Jun David | Aug. 18, 2014 at 12:01am

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Marcos Jr. cites timely, lasting solution

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a looming energy crisis should get the administration to consider
building a nuclear power plant.
He raised the urgency of a solution when he held a multi-sectoral dialogue on infrastructure and
local government in Valenzuela City with Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo and other community leaders.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and Valenzuela

City 2nd District Representative Magtanggol
Gunigundo discuss the need for the government
to weigh the benefits of nuclear energy amid a
power supply shortage that can lead to massive
blackouts around summer in 2015. JUN DAVID
Marcos said the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was a victim of politics outside the fear of a meltdown.
The BNPP was turned into a political issue, he said in Tagalog. Kung tutuusin pag itinuloy ang
pagtatayo nito, hindi makakaranas ng kakapusan ng supply ng enerhiya ang buong Luzon (If at all,
the entire Luzon will not experience shortage in energy supply if the power plant is built as
planned). said.
Marcos said nuclear facilities in other countries have boosted the economy because of a much
cheaper source of energy.
Korea has five nuclear plants and plans to add another, he added, noting that the government was
convinced about the economic gains outweighing the risks involved.
Marcos said foreign businesses are discouraged from investing in the country because of its steep
price of electricity which is ranked among the highest in Asia.
Instead, investors flock to other countries where electricity is cheaper and supply is always
available, he said.

Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla had raised concerns over blackouts due to a
200-megawatt shortage expected around summer of 2015.
Recently, Malacaang said it would look into proposals to convert the BNPP for natural gas-power
amid the countrys growing demand for energy due to a robust economy.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government
was open to the idea.
Mainam na pag-aralan ang panukalang iyan, kung ito ay posible at kapaki-pakinabang (It would do
well to study the proposal for its possible benefits), he said when asked about commissioning the
mothballed.
Coloma cited the need to reassess an earlier study to determine the BNPPs viability for the
government and investors.
According to proponents, the projected 1,800 MW from the converted BNPP makes more sense to
taxpayers that spending P26 million annually on the idle plants maintenance.