Philippines
Gatchalian urges DOE to bare PH nuclear program study first before adopting new energy measures
Gatchalian urges DOE to bare PH nuclear program study first before adopting new energy measures
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to disclose the results of the Philipine nuclear program study first before adopting any nuclear energy program for the country.
Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, said transparency “is the most important factor in any discussions on nuclear power.”
“The Senate has funded the Department of Energy’s nuclear research and feasibility study amounting to P266-million since 2018,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“This study should be made public in order for the Filipino people to understand the risks and benefits of nuclear power injected into our energy mix,” the senator added.
“Transparency is key in building the confidence of the public on the use of this complex source of power,” he further said.
Gatchalian, who is seeking a Senate re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections said, establishing nuclear power from the ground up entails numerous pieces of legislation and policies to ensure the safety of the public.
But with six session days left in the 18th Congress, the senator said there is no ample time to enact any nuclear power-related laws.
“Moreover, the next administration should continue the science-based research and study to determine whether the benefits of nuclear power outweighs the risks,” he said.
Duterte has issued Executive Order No. 64 which recommends the adoption of nuclear energy program for the Philippines and partly recommends the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
According to the EO, nuclear power will be “a viable alternative baseload power source along with alternative energy resources, to address the projected decline of coal-fired power plants which come under increasing environmental opposition.”
Under the EO, the government is tasked to take into consideration the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) “Guidelines on Building a National Position for a Nuclear Power Program.”
The guidelines includes national policy development, energy analysis and planning, pre-feasibility study, and the engagement of the public and relevant stakeholders.
The Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) will be tasked to study and make recommendations on the use of the BNPP, as well as the establishment of smaller nuclear facilities.
The DOE, on the other hand, would be tasked to oversee the development and implementation of the nuclear energy program as part of the Philippine energy plan.