Nuclear Energy On The Rise In The Phillipines?

MANILA: The Philippine government has officially restarted its nuclear energy development program after it entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korean government for a feasibility study on the possible revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In a statement, the National Power Corp. said it had signed the MOU with Korea Electric and Power Co (KEPCO) last November 25 in Cebu City.
KEPCO, according to Napocor, is the best partner for this undertaking, as it is well known for its nuclear projects.

The state-run power generation firm added that the nuclear reactor in the BNPP has a “twin sister” in South Korea, the 650-MW Kori 2, commissioned in 1983 and which has been operating since then.

“It is also expressly understood that the signing of the MOU does not give KEPCO any preferential right to future projects or plans that Napocor may undertake on the BNPP. It is clearly understood between Napocor and KEPCO that nothing in the MOU shall be construed as a commitment by the National Power to KEPCO to rehabilitate the BNPP, and that the MOU is non-exclusive,” it said.

Napocor president Froilan Tampinco and KEPCO Philippines president Kang Won Lee signed the MOU, which will be valid for three years.

The agreement will “promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of nuclear power plant operation, maintenance and rehabilitation through the exchange of data and experience, visits and joint work.”

Both parties expect to benefit from “sharing invaluable experience and knowledge to be gained from such cooperation.”

The MOU also covers the exchange of data; activities related to determine the feasibility of the rehabilitation of BNPP; exchange of visits by experts, engineers and technicians in nuclear power generation; and cooperation in nuclear power plant rehabilitation, operation and maintenance and other related business fields.

Based on the agreement, Napocor and KEPCO will conduct various studies, such as those for preparation, planning and implementation of the cooperation project; site survey for the project, subject to the safety and security regulations of Napocor; nuclear legislation, regulation and administration; studies on environmental impact of the project; human resources development related to the project.

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