Korean firm eyeing revival of Bataan nuclear plant

The Korea Electric Power Corp. has initiated talks with the Philippine government to reactivate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The company has also expressed willingness to put up a new nuclear power facility in the country, a top official said. “We have talked with government officials to reactivate the Bataan power plant into a new nuclear plant. That's now under discussion," Kyong Goo Hur, director general for Asia Business Department of Kepco, told reporters. The BNPP cost the government $2.3 billion when it was constructed in 1976 and completed in 1984. However, it was never used due to opposition from various groups. Taxpayers are paying $155,000 a day in interest for this unused power facility. Hur said his company has broached the possibility of conducting studies on the re-powering of BNPP, and even signified its willingness to put up a new nuclear plant in the country. The official admitted that putting up a new plant would be more expensive than reactivating the BNPP. However, Hur said the government has yet to respond to their proposals. “I think they are still considering the possibility of putting up a nuclear power plant but the government has yet to send its response. Probably, the government thinks it will take some time, basically they understand the difficulties... and the experience with the Bataan (facility)," Hur said. According to Hur if the Philippine government would allow the use of nuclear plants, the cost of power in the country will be reduced drastically. “If you conduct the nuclear power in the Philippines, current power rates can be reduced," he said. In South Korea, Hur said, existing power rates are P3 per kilowatt hour lower than the P6 to P7 being charged electricity consumers in the Philippines. - Marie Neri, GMANews.TV