Survey shows 79% of Pinoys favor nuclear power option

By Lenie Lectura -October 31, 2019
from Business Mirror

Most Filipinos are in favor of utilizing nuclear power for electricity generation in the country, a survey conducted last May showed.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi revealed on Wednesday the results of the survey during the handover ceremony of the official Phase 1 mission report of the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission to the Department of Energy (DOE).

The agency earlier tapped the Social Weather Stations (SWS) to conduct a “perception” survey on nuclear energy in the Philippines. The DOE kept the results of the study private because, according to Cusi, the agency had to inform President Duterte ahead.

“As part of informing the people, we have conducted a survey on the acceptability of nuclear with the Filipinos. We have engaged SWS. They made a survey last May. There was a Cabinet meeting last October 5, and I presented it. The report says 79 percent of the Filipinos favor nuclear. The only problem is, ang sinasabi ay not in my own backyard.

Ang sinasabi dun sa survey also is 72 percent would follow, or would believe the decision of the President. So, ang pinakama-laking endorser ng nuclear would be President Duterte,” said Cusi during his acceptance speech.

Cusi said the President asked him during the Cabinet meeting if a decision should be made immediately. “I said no and that we’ll give you time to really know more. That’s why we’re trying to send information on what nuclear is, objectively.”

The proposed executive order on the adoption of national nuclear position to embark on a nuclear power program and a recommendation on an expanded Nepio (Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization) has been submitted to the President. If and when signed, a legal framework must be crafted.

The energy chief is hoping that a national policy on nuclear energy will be finalized before the term of  Duterte ends. “Maybe the approval and preparation can be done within the administration, but not the nuclear plant,” Cusi said.

On December 10, 2018, the INIR Mission Phase 1 was conducted in Manila, where the DOE presented its self-evaluation report, which outlined progress made relative to the 19 nuclear infrastructure requirement issues identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in their Milestones Approach, a comprehensive and systemic guide for countries considering the introduction of nuclear power.

INIRMissions are conducted by the IAEA to assist its member-states in evaluating the status of the 19 infrastructure requirements, to determine the possibility of introducing a safe, secure and sustainable national nuclear program.

The Philippines would need to address and satisfy the 19 infrastructure requirements before it would be able to successfully embark on a full nuclear energy program, said the agency.

“Our acceptance and concurrence to the Phase 1 Mission Report would require us to submit our Phase 1 National Action Plan, which would be our response to the recommendations made by the INIR Mission with regard to the 19 nuclear power program infrastructure issues.

To this end, we are set to meet with the IAEA next month to discuss further collaboration efforts. I am personally looking forward to the effective formulation and implementation of this Action Plan, which would have a great impact on our considerations in developing a national nuclear power program,” said Cusi.

The energy chief is looking forward to the day when the country would be able to finally introduce nuclear power as a possible addition to the country’s energy mix.

Initially, there will be a study on the viability of small modular nuclear reactors to be deployed in small island provinces.

“What we signed with coordinating with Russian nuclear energy agency Rosatom (Russian State Atomic Energy Corp.) for the conduct of a pre-feasibility study. After which, there will be a feasibility study then construction. Right now, we are just in the stage wherein we agreed for the conduct of a pre-feasibility study,” said Cusi.

The modular nuclear reactors will have a capacity anywhere between 20 to 200 megawatts. “Imagine if you use crude, it needs to be replaced immediately once consumed. There will be a logistics nightmare since you want to serve these remote places, but with nuclear as fuel it will last for a year or so,” said Cusi.