Ex-lawmaker urges Aquino: Revive Bataan nuclear plant

MANILA, Philippines - Former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco urged President Aquino yesterday to consider reviving the $2.3-billion Bataan nuclear plant to bring down the cost of electricity.

Cojuangco told a news forum in Quezon City that aside from reducing the cost of electricity by P2 to P2.50 per kilowatt-hour (kwh), operating the mothballed plant would also help the Aquino administration solve the impending power shortage problem.

“This problem will hit us hard in two years. As of now, there is already a recurring shortage as shown by the recurring rotating (blackouts),” he said.

He noted that Mr. Aquino, who is his cousin, complained of blackouts in his Times Street neighborhood in Quezon City the other night.

Cojuangco said even with the operation of the 600-megawatt Bataan plant, the country would have to build more power generation facilities since the projected shortage in two years is about 2,000 megawatts.

He said it takes three to five years to build a coal-fired plant, while a nuclear power plant takes eight years to construct.

“The nation might have no choice but to operate the Bataan plant to fill part of the generation shortage expected in two years because there are no new plants being built,” he said.

He added that the projected power shortage would be bigger if there is significant economic growth.

Responding to questions, Cojuangco said he had discussed with Mr. Aquino his proposal when the latter was still a presidential candidate.

“His principal concern was the safety aspect. I explained to him that nuclear power is one of the safest sources of energy today. There are a lot more people dying from pollution caused by coal or oil-fired plants than there were deaths from accidents in the past involving nuclear plants,” he said.

He said he has also written new Energy Secretary Rene Almendras about his advocacy, which he vowed to pursue as a private citizen.

Cojuangco ended his nine years as representative of Pangasinan’s fifth district last June 30. His wife Kimi, former mayor of Sison town, won his seat.

Cojuangco tried but failed to convince his House colleagues in the previous Congress to collectively express their sense in favor of the revival of the Bataan nuclear plant. In one session, he nearly collapsed from anger because his colleagues refused to take up his proposal.

Citing a recent study by an investment bank, journalist Jonathan de la Cruz, a former congressman, has said the Philippines has overtaken Japan as the country in Asia with the highest cost of electricity.

De la Cruz, who had bills in the House that seek reductions in electricity rates, said Japan’s cost is 11 US cents per kwh, while the cost here translates to 14 cents.

That was before the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the largest power distributor, petitioned the Energy Regulatory Commission for a rate increase.

Napocor is asking for an increase of more than P4 per kwh. The adjustment, if granted together with that of Meralco, will almost double the present cost of electricity, which users already find prohibitive.

It was during the presidency of Mr. Aquino’s late mother Corazon Cojuangco Aquino that the Bataan nuclear plant was mothballed. A commission that inquired into the facility found it overpriced, unsafe, and tainted with corruption and fraud.

In fact, the administration of Mr. Aquino’s mother won a case in the US against Westinghouse, the plant’s builder, and banks that financed its construction.