Nuclear power in energy mix by year-end — DOE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy hopes to finalize the roadmap for the inclusion of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix by year-end after President Duterte signed an executive order (EO) supporting the Philippine nuclear energy program.

In a virtual meeting late Thursday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said EO 116 is a big step forward in putting nuclear into the country’s energy mix.

“We’ve been working on what is the national policy, we’re about to have that. The timeline to finalize that is before the end of this year. (That’s a) firm decision so the President would be able to make that decision on the inclusion of nuclear energy,” he said.

EO 116 provides for the creation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) to be chaired by the DOE, with the Department of Science and Technology as vice chair.

The inter-agency body is mandated to primarily conduct a study for the adoption of a national position on a Nuclear Energy Program (NEP).

EO 116 requires the NEP-IAC to submit an initial report to the Office of the President within six months or by January 2021.

“We’re going to organize the inter-agency that would firm up the inclusion of nuclear in our energy mix,” Cusi said.

Since 2017, the DOE has been pushing for the inclusion of nuclear in the country’s energy mix.

Since then, a regulatory framework and legislative framework are being worked on.

The bill on nuclear energy has been certified by the President as urgent, Cusi said.

Meanwhile, the country —through the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization — has been working on completing the country’s nuclear assessment based on the 19 issues laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“We make sure that we comply with international regulations and the 19 hurdles that we have to finish, that’s almost complete with the help of IAEA,” he said.

Cusi said the public is also included in the policy for nuclear energy.

“Another factor is engaging the public to keep them informed, to be transparent about the project,” Cusi said.

So far, several provinces have expressed interest in hosting nuclear power plants.

Cusi said he had a recent meeting with Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez, who expressed his openness to put up a nuclear power facility in the island.

Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and the province of Sulu earlier said they were open to host a nuclear power plant.

As for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Cusi said the inclusion of nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix is not dependent on plans of the mothballed power plant.