‘Philippines should not revive Bataan nuclear plant’
The Philippines should abandon plans to rehabilitate the long-mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and instead build a new facility to ensure the safety of Filipinos, according to Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
Philippines' Senator Erwin Tulfo has called for the country to abandon plans to revitalize the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and instead construct a new facility to ensure public safety, stating that the existing plant is decades old and may pose significant risks. Tulfo, the chair of the Senate committee on energy, expressed concern over the potential for leaks that could endanger nearby residents and communities, emphasizing that nuclear power is a matter of serious concern.
The BNPP, the Philippines' first attempt at integrating nuclear energy into its power mix, was constructed in the 1980s but never activated due to safety issues and political opposition. In an effort to determine the BNPP's future, the Philippines entered into an agreement with South Korea to conduct a feasibility study, but the results have yet to be released.
Tulfo stressed that before any nuclear project proceeds, the government must address public apprehensions regarding safety and environmental impacts, as public approval is crucial. The Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, responsible for overseeing nuclear affairs in the country, has yet to finalize its implementing rules and regulations.
Despite these challenges, the Department of Energy had previously identified several locations in the country as potential sites for the nation's first nuclear power plant, with an initial target of achieving 1,200 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, now shifted to 2038 with a goal of 1,400 megawatts.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
