With the recent increase in oil prices and also with the demand of energy increasing due to a sharp increase in population and an expanding economy, Philippines is considering the feasibility of restarting a nuclear energy programme.

Independent experts will be hired by the energy authorities to carry out independent studies and the findings will then be used by the government to make a decision on whether to go nuclear or not.

Nuclear scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited Philippines earlier this year to advise the government on the option of rehabilitating its Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The government estimates it will cost US$800m to jump start the Bataan plant which had cost US$2.3b to build. The image above shows the plant.

The Corazon Aquino administration pulled the plug on the plant in 1986 due to opposition by Bataan residents for fear of safety sparked by nuclear accidents happening elsewhere like the Chernobyl disaster.However, many other S.E Asia countries has already considered nuclear energy to be an alternative sorce of energy.

Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia all plan to build plants by 2020, while Indonesia has included nuclear power in its latest long term national energy policy. The Philippine authorities meanwhile intends to get a public debate on the issue.

Besides nuclear energy, Philippines is able to build more power plants and also consider using alternative energy like geothermal which I have discussed in a earlier article, to meet its energy demand.

Via- Straits Times