DOE crafting policies for nuclear energy mix

The Philippines is now in the process of crafting policies and frameworks which will guide the planned inclusion of nuclear energy in the power mix.

In a budget hearing on Monday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said nuclear energy will be included in the power mix to ensure sufficient power supply moving forward.

"Sa usapin po dito ng nuclear, nasa paggawa pa po tayo ng atin pong mga policies, 'yung atin pong legal framework and legislative framwork. Nandoon pa po tayo," he told congressmen in response to questions on updates on the inclusion of nuclear energy in the power mix.

In July, President Rodrigo Duterte formed an inter-agency committee to look into tapping nuclear energy given the diminishing power resources.

"Ang nuclear po ay isinasama lang po natin na masama sa ating energy mix para sa seguridad, security for the future dahil nga po sa vulnerabilities that we are facing sa oil imports, sa coal, and other sources. Ang gusto lang po natin ay ma-tap lahat ng energy sources that are possible," Cusi said.

"Another thing is that we want, ang gusto po natin na gawing competitive ang Pilipinas para po tayo maka-create ng magagandang trabaho para sa atin pong mga kababayan," he added.

At present, majority of the Philippines' power supply is still from coal, while a portion is supplied by renewable energy resources.

To recall, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella in 2017 cited the need to expand the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) capability to accommodate and shipments from overseas, given the declining supply from the Malampaya gas field.

“By 2024, the Malampaya gas field is expected to be depleted … until 2027. There is a need to expand its facilities for LNG expansion and importation, and for further exploration,” Fuentebella has said.

The Malampaya gas-to-power facility fuels three gas-fired power plants with a total generating capacity of 2,700 megawatts (MW)—providing up to 30% of the power generation needs of Luzon.

Connected to onshore gas plants in Batangas, the Malampaya offshore facility in Northern Palawan was inaugurated in 2001.—LDF, GMA News