Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Nine years needed to rehab mothballed nuke plant

Posted on September 14, 2015

By Sammy F. Martin

MANILA, Sept. 14 (PNA) — The National Power Corp. (Napocor) on Monday said the government needs at least nine years to rehabilitate and assess the long-stalled Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

“The BNPP can be successfully rehabilitated at the cost of USD 1 billion for a period of 4 years, our information now is having a new nuclear power (plant) would cost USD 5 to USD 6 billion and will be completed in 10 years,” Napocor President Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita told the panel.

She said that if rehabilitated, the BNPP could provide 620 megawatts or 10 percent of Luzon grid.

Nuclear Regulations Division chief Teofilo Leonin Jr. of the Philippine National Research Institute (PNRI) said that the PNRI needed at least five years to assess the four-year rehabilitation made by the government.

“The technology of BNPP was done in 1970, perhaps if the government decide, if ever, to rehabilitate the BNPP, the Napocor who is currently the caretaker of the plant needs to show the proof to the PNRI whether it can still be operated safely,” Leonin said.

House committee on Energy chairman and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali urged the government to decide whether it will push for the use of BNPP or not before the Aquino administration ends next year.

“We need to make policy decision whether to run this or not, this is not to mention the rehabilitation cost but more importantly social acceptance,” Umali noted.

The government has allocated Php 50 million yearly to maintain the BNPP.

“These are matters we consider as a government in determining whether to push for this or not but, at the same time, I think since this is an asset that is already available I think it is also imperative for the government particularly Napocor to take all alternative uses of BNPP so that when we make presentation and before you make decision we have fallback decision. We have options that may consider other than present it as nuclear power plant,” Umali said.

He said that the government should make comparative presentations that are more feasible, viable and economical on how the government would use the facility.

Meanwhile, Sta. Rita said that the government decided to look on the feasibility of the BNPP in 2007 with assistance from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The BNPP was a completely built pressurized water reactor that has been mothballed since 1986.

“The IAEA responded by sending an 8-man group to conduct a study in 2008 and they recommended the following: First, BNPP’s status must be thoroughly evaluated by technical inspections and economic evaluations conducted by a committed group of nuclear power experts with experience in preservation management. Second, the mission advised the Philippines on the general requirements for starting its nuclear power program, stressing that the proper infrastructure, safety standards, and knowledge be implemented,” she said.

Earlier, Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong revived calls to revisit the long-stalled BNPP to address the increasing power rates in the country.

“The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant should be revisited as it might help solve the current problem on the unabated power rate hikes,” he said.

He added that the government has been spending millions for the maintenance of BNPP so it’s time to use it. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme