DOE: Philippines not ready to put up nuclear power plant

The Philippine government is not ready to put up a nuclear power plant because the law prohibits the state from doing so, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday.

DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza, Jr. said the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) only allows the private sector to engage in power generation.

"In terms of legal framework, are we ready? The Philippines is not ready at this point because under EPIRA, power generation is vested in the private sector. It was removed from the [state-run] National Power Corporation (Napocor)," Erguiza said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"So as of now, walang kakayahan ang gobyerno na magpatayo ng nuclear power plant kasi wala ito sa mandate ng Napocor (Funding a nuclear power plant is outside of the government mandate). But we can align and amend our laws to so that the government can fund a nuclear power plant," he added.

Likewise, Erquiza clarified that coming up with a framework for a nuclear power plant takes years.

"We need about six to eight years of preparing the framework," he said

Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier said he discussed possible revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a project during the term of  his late father President Ferdinand Marcos, with South Korean diplomat  Kim Inchul.

That $2.3 billion BNPP project was shelved after three years due to safety concerns.

Erguiza, however, said that use of nuclear-powered small modular reactors is an option because it can be stored in a small compartment and is allowed under existing laws.

"The small modular reactors are the trend now and it can be done by Napocor for power generation to serve missionary islands. These areas are those na hindi connected sa grid natin at independent ang transmission lines," he said.

"Kung small sources, mapapatayo ito (When we talk of small sources, it is possible)," he added.—AOL, GMA News