Engineers' group seeks revival of bill on Bataan nuke plant

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) yesterday urged President Aquino to certify as urgent a refiled bill at the House of Representatives seeking to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

PSME president engineer Lemicio Roxas told reporters during the broadcasters forum at Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City that the nuclear power plant is the only option left to avert a power crisis expected to occur in the country in the next few years.

He said the group, which has 45,000 members, would file an appeal to Malacañang to push for the revival of the power plant, which it said is still in excellent condition.

The bill, refiled by Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, was approved by the House committee on energy and referred for second reading.

The proposed measure seeks the validation and rehabilitation of the decommissioned nuclear plant, which had cost the government US$2.118 billion.

It likewise seeks the allocation of an annual budget for the maintenance of the nuclear plant.

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) has said the Philippines is the only country in Asia left out in the development of nuclear power for electricity generation.

PNRI director Dr. Alumanda de Rosa said the contemporary plant of the BNPP in Korea is fully functional and more nuclear plants are being built in the country. Taiwan, China, and Japan are also using power plants, while Thailand and Vietnam are preparing the construction of power plants.

Former PSME president engineer Roberto Lozada said the rehabilitation of the BNPP would only take at least two years.                                                                  

“By that time we have a new and stable source of power courtesy of the nuclear plant,” Lozada said.