Congressmen call for revival of Bataan nuke plant

Over 150 congressmen or a majority of House members are calling for the revival of the mothballed Bataan nuclear plant to boost the country’s power supply.

Pangasinan Rep. Marcos Cojuangco, son of billionaire businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., is leading the campaign to revive the nuclear facility.

Cojuangco is the principal author of the proposed Bataan Nuclear Commissioning Act of 2008 which calls for the commercial operation of the Bataan plant by 2012, to prevent an electricity shortage.

The measure is a consolidation of Bills 4631 and 1039 filed by Cojuangco and Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis, respectively, and Resolutions 257 and 250, filed by Bataan Rep. Herminia Roman and Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, respectively.

Cojuangco cited the need for the country to augment power supply in the next few years to avert a shortage.

He said by 2012, the nation is projected to experience brownouts if 3,000 megawatts is not added to existing capacity.

The brownouts “will be far worse than what we experienced during the power crisis in the early ’90s,” he said.

He pointed out that the Bataan plant, if revived, could supply 640 megawatts using cheaper and environment-friendly fuels.

“Alternative energy resources like hydrogen, uranium, or an under exploited and more abundant resource, thorium, could be used for the plant,” he added.

Cojuangco noted that existing coal-fired plants consume 1.732 million tons of coal each year, spewing out mercury, cadmium, lead, and other pollutants into the environment.

He explained that cheap power generation such as nuclear would mean lower electricity rates for consumers.

He said the state has the duty “to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”

The $2.2-billion Bataan nuclear plant was built by American firm Westinghouse during former President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration.

The huge amount used for its construction was borrowed from several foreign banks.

Investigation conducted during the Aquino administration showed that the plant was overpriced and had construction defects. This led the Aquino government to decide not to operate it.

However, despite such findings, then President Corazon Aquino and her finance and economic managers chose to continue paying for the loans used for the plant. – Jess Diaz