The top official of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) reiterated on Monday, August 1 that nuclear power could offer the country with the cleanest source of power at a lesser cost.
During a Laging Handa Public Briefing, DOST-PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla stated that nuclear power is the safest and cleanest large-scale energy available. He mentioned that across the globe, there are 450 active nuclear power plants, approximately 100 of which are in America, supplying 20 percent of its electricity needs minus the pollution.
"Ang daming namamatay dahil sa air pollution; ang namatay sa nuclear power accidents kasama na po Fukushima at saka Chernobyl ay napakakaunti. So, kung unsafe iyong nuclear, bakit may halos 100 na nasa Amerika? (A lot of are dying from air pollution; those who died from nuclear power accidents including those in Fukushima and Chernobyl are few in comparison. If nuclear power is unsafe, why is there 100 of it in America?)," Arcilla explained.
He said that these plants have operated for more than 60 years and were given a license to operate for 20 more.
He added that the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich countries also have nuclear power plants. Now that the world is in a difficult situation because of the problem in Russia, Arcilla mentioned that nuclear delivers high-energy density and energy security.
The country's current energy mix is composed of 60 percent coal which is imported mostly from Indonesia and 20 percent from the Malampaya gas field. Arcilla suggested that nuclear power can help in supplying the 20 percent presently supplied by the Malampaya gas field which is fast depleting.
He said that the country has no choice since it has no coal and the Malampaya gas field is depleting. So what's important according to him, is to handle the energy mix responsibly and put nuclear power in it.
“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 in an earlier statement.