Cusi: Philippines missed chance to tap nuclear energy for economic development

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines missed its chance to use nuclear energy as an alternative source of power early on, which would have led to a faster pace of economic development, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“I firmly believe that our country’s economic landscape would be much different had we tapped nuclear power back then. Instead, our economic development was stunted, whereas our regional neighbors who had boldly ventured toward nuclear, had all been transformed into economic powerhouses,” Cusi said during the virtual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Scientific Forum.

He said the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to embark on a nuclear power program with the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission in 1958.

He said that in the 1980s, the country became host to the region’s only nuclear power plant, which was unfortunately mothballed due to allegations of corruption and widespread safety concerns on how the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant would fare in the face of nature’s wrath.

“Now, over 40 years after its construction, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant still stands. I wonder — where have all those people who strongly opposed its operation gone? Really, it is a shame that the Philippines was unable to seize the opportunity to harness nuclear energy at that time,” Cusi said.

He, however, expressed optimism for the current developments toward the nuclear power sector, emphasizing that this would provide the country an opportunity to re-write its nuclear journey.

Among these developments include the creation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee(NEP-IAC) tasked to conduct a study on the adoption of a national position on nuclear power.

“This is a major step toward the realization of a Philippine nuclear energy program — one which would benefit our people by enhancing our energy supply levels and help shield our consumers from traditional power price volatilities,” Cusi said.

He also emphasized that the Philippine Energy Plan already forecasts the inclusion of nuclear power in the energy mix by 2030.

“With the evolution of small modular reactors that are suitable for the off-grid or island areas of the Philippines, the possibility of establishing a modular power plant in the country might come sooner – even as early as 2027,” the energy chief said.

“We are strongly pushing for the passage of the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks to pave the way for nuclear power, which are among the bills that have been certified as urgent in Congress,” he said.