"We are considering nuclear power plant as an option," Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi mentioned during a Senate Committee on Energy hearing on Wednesday. Nuclear is not popular but it is our responsibility to look at it for the nation's building," Cusi said.
"I already have a bias. If I had to make the decision, I will operate [(Bataan Nuclear Power Plant(BNPP)] but its not me to decide. It's for the country to decide," he added, noting that it will take some USD 1-billion to refurbish the BNPP.
Cusi assured that the BNPP was a good, safe option for cheap electricity after Senator Leila De Lima raised doubts that it was the best options for the country's power woes.
He will be providing the Senate with a detailed presentation on the BNPP while studies are ongoing.
"It's at the fault line but we have engineering solution for those type of projects and our competent engineers will take those into account if ever we are going to commission it," Cusi told reporters. He will be meeting nuclear experts to get their take on plans for the BNPP revival. Experts say that it will take two to four years to revive the country's power plant.
The Philippine government, in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) and International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC), has convened global experts on nuclear energy development for a three-day conference, which forms part of the steps being undertaken by the Department of Energy (DOE) for the nuclear power options, Cusi said.
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