Cusi lauds Duterte order to study nuclear power in energy mix

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday welcomed the issuance of an executive order creating an inter-agency committee to study the possibility of tapping nuclear power to be included in the country’s energy mix.

“The Department of Energy welcomes EO116 as a major step towards 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.

The Energy chief thanked the President for finally signing the order.

Signed by the President on July 24, Executive Order 116 created the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee headed by the Department of Energy, with the Department of Science and Technology as vice chairperson. 

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

Cusi said the government will continue to work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other experts to realize the inclusion of nuclear power in the country’s existing energy mix in the future.

“I believe that once we have successfully addressed infrastructure gaps as identified by the IAEA, and we have fulfilled all other necessary national requirements, our people and future generations will reap the economic benefits a nuclear energy program brings,” he said.

In the issuance of the EO, the President cited the imperative need to revisit the country’s policy on nuclear energy and to determine its feasibility as a long term option for power generation.

Aside from the DOE and the DOST, the inter-agency body will have the following as members:

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

• Department of Finance (DOF)

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

• National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

• National Power Corporation (NPC)

• National Transmission Corporation (Transco)

• Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

• Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)

Specifically, EO 116 tasked the NEP-IAC to carry out the following:

Conduct a pre-feasibility study to evaluate and assess the need for and viability of introducing nuclear power into the State's energy mix, taking into consideration economic, security and environmental implications, and engagement of the public and relevant stakeholders;

Evaluate and formulate a national strategy to include a roadmap and timeline in the preparation of a NEP, as well as measures to address infrastructure gaps and issues, and make appropriate recommendations thereon;

Review the existing legal framework, study the viability of nuclear energy, and recommend the necessary steps in the utilization of nuclear energy, as well as existing facilities such as but not limited to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant;

Create sub-committees to facilitate decision-making on various issues that may arise in the course of study;

Promulgate guidelines and rules for the effective implementation of EO 116; and

Perform other functions as the President may direct.

The newly-signed EO empowers the NEP-IAC to call upon any department, agency or instrumentality of the government for assistance in the course of accomplishing its tasks, according to Cusi.

“They are further allowed to seek the assistance of the IAEA and other international bodies to carry out their mandate,” he said.

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

Funding for the body’s operational expenses will be charged against the DOE budget, and other funding sources that may be identified by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Cusi earlier said that the Philippines’ possible foray into nuclear power generation does not have to be the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). 

He said that Russian State Nuclear Energy Corp.’s (Rosatom) proposed small modular reactor technology is among the options being considered if the country decides to tap nuclear energy.

In October 2019, Rosatom and the DOE signed a memorandum of intent on cooperation to conduct a pre-feasibility study on construction in the Philippines of nuclear power plants based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology. —LDF, GMA News