The Department of Energy (DOE) is now just waiting for the go signal of President Duterte before the department could move forward with its plan to finally tap nuclear energy in power generation.
During its budget hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, the DOE revealed it had already submitted its position paper on the matter at the Office of the President for approval.
If approved, it will allow DOE to start a long-term capacity building plan towards the construction of a new nuclear power plant in the country.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said they hope Duterte could decide on the proposal soon since it will take them at least 7 years to build a nuclear plant.
“After we have the technology, what follows is capacity building, identification of areas, and social activities,” Cusi said.
He explained the preparation for the construction of the plant will entail numerous preparation including the tapping of capable personnel to operate it and getting public support for the project.
“We want nuclear to be part of our energy for security, sustainability and for affordability reasons,” Cusi said.
The current administration has been trying to revive the country’s aspiration of using nuclear power since 2016 with the creation of the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO).
Philippines attempted to open its first ever nuclear power plant in Bataan during the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos, but the facility did not became operational.
The government has already allocated P39 million for the NEPIO in 2017. Senate has opted to increase it to P48 million next year.
The budget comprises about a fourth DOE’s proposed P2 million budget for 2019.
Aside from nuclear energy, the DOE is now also pushing to increase number of oil drillings in the country to secure it energy requirements in the long-term.
It said this will increase the country’s chances of finding new fuel sources.
Currently, Cusi said the country only has average of three drillings in previous years.
He said this way below compared to the country’s neighboring countries like Myanmar, which conduct an average of 20 drillings per year and Vietnam with 14.
“If we need energy security, we must be able to produce our own. Tap our own fuel and gas and we cannot achieve that if we don’t drill,” Cusi said.