BY HERMAN M. LAGON
LONG contested for its advantages and disadvantages, nuclear energy has made a comeback as a potential remedy for the energy crisis facing the Philippines.
It’s becoming more and more clear that the country needs a strong, dependable energy solution as brownouts and growing electricity bills plague the country. Now for nuclear power: efficient, clean, and becoming more and more appealing.
But the return of nuclear energy needs to be handled carefully, learning from the past and providing a clear, stable path for its acceptance.
A lasting impression was left by the Philippines’ prior experience with nuclear energy, specifically at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
The BNPP was constructed during the Marcos dictatorship, but it was eventually shelved without ever being put into use due to corruption and safety issues. The nation’s continued mistrust of government transparency, environmental concerns, and the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters all contribute to the stigma associated with nuclear energy in the nation.
However, as the energy crisis approaches, it’s important to reframe the conversation: nuclear energy may be the solution to the Philippines’ power problems if it is handled with integrity and foresight.
Let’s start by talking about the big issue, which is safety. The worries are well-founded. By definition, using nuclear power is risky. But compared to decades ago, nuclear energy is now far safer and more flexible thanks to technological advancements.
For the Philippines, small modular reactors (SMRs) offer a more feasible and scalable option. The risks associated with larger, older plants are diminished by the improved safety features built into these reactors, which can be installed in areas with lower population densities. And Palawan enters the picture at this point.
An excellent site for such a project is the middle of Palawan, an area renowned for its relative political and geographical stability. Far from Bataan’s corrupt past and from the seismic activity that rocks most of Luzon and Mindanao, Palawan offers a neutral ground for nuclear energy to finally take hold in the Philippines. Finding a secure location for a nuclear plant is only one aspect of the issue; another is deciding where to locate this vital infrastructure to reduce risk and maximize potential advantages for the nation.
But the government needs to proceed cautiously before rushing into nuclear energy. One important takeaway from the BNPP fiasco is that politicians cannot be the only ones with access to nuclear power.
Should nuclear energy be a component of the Philippines’ energy landscape, it ought to be made available to private establishments via an open and sincere bidding procedure. This guarantees that the project will draw highly qualified, internationally renowned nuclear specialists unaffected by politics, corruption, or unscrupulous behavior. In addition to giving the public confidence, a transparent process would guarantee that people with the necessary skills and experience manage the project. (To be continued)/PN
