The top official of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) believes that nuclear power could offer the country with the cleanest source of baseload power at a lesser cost.
DOST-PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla made the statement during DOSTv’s ExperTalk Online in relation to talks regarding the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Several experts believe that it would greatly help in addressing the rising cost of fuel and electricity in the country.
He shared that currently our energy mix is composed of 60 percent coal which we import mostly from Indonesia and 20 percent from the Malampaya gas field. Dir. Arcilla suggested that nuclear power can help in supplying the 20 percent presently supplied by the Malampaya gas field which is fast depleting.
“Actually, renewables at nuclear can complement each other. Kaso ang problema kasi sa wind and solar, variable siya, nakadepende siya kung maaraw o hindi, 30 percent lang ang capacity factor niya unless, kailangan mo ng backup, unless mayroon kang battery na mahal (Actually, renewables and nuclear can complement each other. Wind and solar depend on the weather whether it's sunny or not and it only has a 30 percent capacity factor unless you have an expensive battery),” Arcilla said.
He added that there is another issue concerning solar energy. It's the fact that it requires one hectare of land to produce one megawatt, and this will become more challenging since the Philippines is an archipelagic country.
“Nuclear is more of a baseload energy meaning it is more reliable due to its continuous production of energy. It could provide backup for wind and solar,” explained Dir. Arcilla.
Meanwhile, when it comes to nuclear waste, he recommended what is called “Deep Borehole Disposal”. He stated that nuclear waste is hard to handle and it lasts for 10,000 years and should be isolated from the human environment.
He explained that this could be done in the country since we have the capability to drill up to three kilometers deep. According to him,this can be done by locating an isolated island that can be drilled up by 1 kilometer before it's plugged in with bentonite. Its negative crystal layers will absorb the positive uranium ions, he added.
Meanwhile, in the issue of safety, Dir. Arcilla emphasized that nuclear power has been with the country for 60 years. There were some accidents but have minimal casualties and are isolated incidences.
Arcilla pointed out that if the number of hours operated by coal and gas would be compared to nuclear; nuclear has one of the lowest. Though if there is an accident, it could be spectacular, and that becomes the issue, he added. However, in terms of lives lost, it is minimal. If the country would be running nuclear, since it is not burning coal; meaning it is not releasing carbon dioxide He stressed that nuclear, in general, will be helpful for all especially if risks are managed properly. Then he added that if people have concerns with nuclear, he notes that the United States has allowed the operation of 94 nuclear power plants with an average lifespan of 60 years, supplying 20 percent of its energy requirements.
Dir. Arcilla also shared that in 2019, the Department of Energy, through the assistance of Social Weather Station, conducted a survey of 5,000 Filipinos, that showed 79 percent are in favor of utilizing nuclear power for electric generation due to high electricity cost.
“May nagsasabi kasi na mahal ang nuclear power, totoo mahal lalo na kung magsisimula kang gawa ng malaking planta kasi capital cost ay malaki. Pero i-amortized mo iyan over 60 to 80 years, mura pa rin. At isa sa napaka-importanteng reason ay walang binubugang carbon dioxide, it is the cleanest source of baseload power on earth right now (There have been comments that nuclear power is expensive. Definitely, it is expensive due to its huge capital cost. However, if you amortize it for over 60 to 80 years; it is still cheaper. And most importantly, it does not release carbon dioxide; it is the cleanest source of baseload power on earth right now.),” Arcilla stressed.
“Let’s believe the science, especially sa mga ganitong isyu. Kasi kung life and death ang pag-uusapan, you have to rely on science. Dapat evidence-based, kung transparent naman ang naging proseso ng pag-aaral, let’s move forward, huwag tayo magpapigil sa takot, truth drives out fear (Let’s work on the science, especially in this kind of issue. When we talk about life and death; we have to rely on science. It should be evidence-based and if the process of several studies have been transparent, let’s move forward, truth drives out fear.),” he stated.