Repower Father’s Project

by Jewel Rose Daguinotas

The Bataan Nuclear Plant was built in response to the oil crisis in 1973 during dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and spent 2.1 Billion USD for construction. It can generate 623 MW (MegaWatt). However, the power plant never operated again due to financial and environmental issues, and political liability.

One of the concerns of every Filipino is the electricity rate. According to Business Mirror, the Philippines has the highest average electricity price in Asia next to Japan in 2018. BNPP could achieve lower electricity prices to P2 per kWh (kilowatt per hour) unlike using coal-fired power plants that reach P6 per kWh. Aside from that, the risk of power shortage will be lowered as well.

As climate change is a huge concern in this country, reopening BNPP is definitely not the answer for climate action. It might not release any emissions but it produces radioactive wastes. The fact that there is no way to destroy this kind of waste and even can cause pollution to the environment.