Is Nuclear Energy a long-term solution to Occidental Mindoro Power Crisis? Is this technology safe?
In a Press Conference with the officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in San Jose last May 6, 2023, Congressman Leody “Odie” Tarriela announced that on May 18, 2023, Congressman Mark Cojuanco of Pangasinan, Chairman of the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy in the Lower House will be coming to the province to discuss the possibility of putting up a power plant in Sablayan. Tarriela even informed the attending municipal mayors that there is a possibility Occidental Mindoro would supply the remaining energy requirement of the entire Philippines.
The press conference is launched by the Occidental Mindoro Print and Broadcast Media chaired by Daisy Del Valle Leano who also acted as moderator at Season’s Hotel sponsored by Tarriela himself graced by Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano, Vice Governor Diana Apigo-Tayag, DILG Regional Director Karl Caesar R. Rimando and PD Juanito D. Olave, Jr., among many others.
Please take note that I am writing this piece as a social communicator, which I have been doing for around 20 years or so, and not in my capacity as an office-holder in the local government unit where I am presently employed.
By the way, DILG Usec. Marlo L. Iringan, CESO III was there for the launching of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program in this western part of the island. It is an intensified and more holistic campaign against illegal drugs to reduce drug demand in the communities. The BIDA program’s main character is its adherence to existing laws, with high value for human rights and anchored on individuals' and communities' rehabilitation and socioeconomic development. The announcement of Tarriela on nuclear energy has nothing to do with BIDA but just conveys the consideration of the meeting on the schedules of the municipal chief executives present at the conference.
The country’s interest in nuclear power as an alternative source of energy started far back in 1973 but it was stopped before even it could take off. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was the first and only nuclear power plant in Southeast Asia then was deferred due to safety issues. But on February 28, 2022, some four decades later, Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 164 calling for the revival of the expedition of nuclear power sources as a national position.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), to mention just two, under Duterte, strongly supported the program. They believe that with the recent moratorium on establishing new coal-powered power plants, and the scarcity of renewable sources as the main source, there is a dire need for a reliable, base-load power source. It is expected to end the prevailing power shortage and meet the strong demand for clean energy. Director Carlo A. Arcilla of PNRI, along with Cong. Cojuanco, continues to push for nuclear projects in the land.
The strong support for nuclear energy is getting momentum. Many policy-makers in the power industry, under Duterte and even today under Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. believes that it can cheapen the high cost of growing energy in the country. As Duterte’s successor, the sitting president is bent on building new power plants in the next six years of his administration. “In the area of nuclear power, there have been new technologies developed that allow smaller scale modular nuclear plants and other derivations thereof,” the president said in his latest SONA.
Duterte’s EO 162 cites that 65% of Filipinos are in favor of building new nuclear power plants (NPPs). The Philippines, in this regard, is considering advanced small modular reactors (SMRs), including floating SMRs, from the United States, South Korea, and Russia, given the archipelagic nature of the country. DOE predicts that SMR deployment could come as early as 2027-2028, according to this report.
Reportedly, a certain company called NuScale Power Corporation already expressed its interest in investing in Occidental Mindoro and in Palawan. The company claims that they are the global leader in SMR technology.
During the forum or consultation come May 18, addressing the critical and crucial hazard and safety issues is essential. We all know nuclear waste will be generated by these SMRs, if ever. Also, there must be a clear-cut answer on how the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Occidental Mindoro, or Sablayan in particular, could affect our being a periodic host to typhoons and other climate-related incidents. We must also consider the presence of the Aglubang River Fault traversing our island.
Hence, there must be an assurance from the national government that the host province or municipality must be spared from disaster brought about by the NPP through an implementable geologic disposal scheme.
There are still things to be done on the part of Cong. Tarriela and the rest of the members of Congress, especially the members of said special committee, if in case. They need to legislate a comprehensive nuclear law that will replace the outdated nuclear regulatory laws which in existence a long-time ago when "Sabel was still young", so to speak.
Both sources, solar and nuclear, are clean energy for they do not emit carbon dioxide, but nuclear energy might come with human and environmental dangers that cannot be rewarded by the electricity it can generate. Including the assurance of free electricity for the host LGU. Neither did the ending of a power crisis that its proponent promised. The non-existent geothermal plant of Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) assured us of the same some years back. Which in reality became a broken promise.
This signals the beginning of the democratic discourse on whether Occidental Mindoro or the country, in general, will finally go thread the path to nuclear power. Discourses and debates on hosting NPP would get Occidental Mindoro again in newspaper headlines and television coverages, for sure.
Meanwhile, the issue at hand is the total overhaul of the prevailing power play in the local power sector that causes us decades-long of deprivations which is not yet over until it is over.
---------
(Photo: MIO-San Jose)
No comments:
Post a Comment