Cojuangco’s crusade takes off nuke stigma

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, or BNPP, would have signaled the advent of the country joining the ranks of tiger economies in Asia as it should have been the first in the region to use the controversial fuel to produce electricity.

It could have solved the tricky problem of sustaining growth with a steady supply of electricity for the fast-developing nation.

Instead, the power plant in Morong, Bataan became a symbol of destructive politics.

By 1984, the BNPP was nearly complete and its cost had reached $2.3 billion.

It was among the first nuclear plant in Asia to be built by American giant Westinghouse.

After the 1987 EDSA Revolt that installed President Corazon Aquino, everything associated with the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was dismantled and thrown away including the BNPP which was mothballed, never to be used, laying to waste the huge amount paid for it.

Needless to say, the efforts of supporters of the nuclear shift as a cheap and reliable source of electricity were an uphill climb.

The political tide against nuclear technology did not deter its prime advocate Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco who had made it his mission to clear the air on the use of the unconventional fuel.

His argument for the use of nuclear technology is based on pragmatism since a power plant running on the fuel would result in cheaper electricity at an estimated P3.50 per kilowatthour, or kWh, compared to P6/kWh with coal energy, currently the most economical source of fuel.

Since the fuel is cheap, coal plants have been providing bulk of the electricity requirements of the country.

Government data show the country mostly uses coal, comprising 47 percent of its energy mix, and imports supply worth around P800 million.

The combination of all sources of power brings the average cost of electricity to around P7.50/kWh.

Cojuangco said the reliability of nuclear plants is also an asset. Compared with other renewable energy sources, nuclear plants deliver electricity 92 percent throughout the day which beats solar and wind technologies that depend on certain weather conditions to be optimal.

Based on the US Energy Information Administration, wind power plants can supply energy 40 percent of the time on a less windy day and 15 percent of the time for solar plants on a cloudy day.

"With the current energy demand, supply from renewable energy sources other than nuclear plants must be backed up by fossil fuel, thus perpetuating the use of these harmful fuels," Cojuangco said.

While wind and sun are intermittent power sources, Cojuangco said "there's no need to be mutually exclusive." He added, "Nuclear energy is a good backup than coal because you get rid of pollution and global warming."

Citing data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Cojuangco said using nuclear energy is cheaper in the long run as the life of a nuclear reactor is 80 years, compared to 15 years for solar batteries, for instance.

BNPP did not operate because "it has been used to demonize former president Ferdinand Marcos," according to Cojuangco.

He added in an interview in Daily Tribune's Straight Talk online show that  one thing that former President Cory Aquino should be credited for is allowing "the future generations to decide on the reactivation of the plant" through Executive Order 55 which requires the preservation and security of the BNPP as studies are conducted on its use.

Regulatory platform needed

Reactivating BNPP and encouraging investors to build more nuclear plants would need a regulatory platform that Cojuangco said can be addressed through the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.

Cojuangco has a pending bill called the "Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act" that seeks to create the body and ease the policy shift towards nuclear technology.

He is currently chairperson of the House special committee on nuclear energy and he has been pivotal in advancing the discussion on nuclear power.

The creation of  the regulator will support the creation of a comprehensive nuclear policy that will draw from the experience of other nations in the use of the game-changing technology.

"We will include the lessons from the nuclear plant disasters in Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 and Fukushima, Japan in 2011," in coming up with a nuclear policy for the Philippines, he said.

Cojuangco dispelled fears about safety in running nuclear plants as he explained that nuclear energy is the only one regulated by the whole world.

He added: "The international agency can come here anytime without prior notice. So the internationally peer-reviewed nuclear industry is the strictest."

Global recognition for advocacy

Cojuangco has been recognized globally for his advocacy for a safe nuclear energy era.

Last July, he became the first Asian to receive the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Nuclear Society, or ANS, the premier organization for nuclear sciences and technologies.

The ANS is known for advancing nuclear science and technology for the benefit of humanity.

Cojuangco was acknowledged for his advocacy of nuclear energy and his crucial role in addressing the Philippines' energy crisis.

For Alpas Pinas, a non-stock, non-profit organization that leads in advocating the use of nuclear energy as a clean energy source, the significance of this award extends beyond Cong. Cojuangco's achievement. 

"As the Philippines faces a pressing energy crisis and a need to explore sustainable energy options, nuclear energy emerges as a promising solution. Congressman Cojuangco's recognition by the ANS highlights the country's potential to harness nuclear energy, offering reliable, safe, and affordable energy while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels," Alpas Pinas, which is the advocacy group that the legislator founded, said.

"This recognition is both a motivation for me and a greater responsibility to continue advancing safe, clean, and affordable electricity for every Filipino. Carrying this award, I am fueled by a stronger desire to push our nation towards the realization of reliable electricity through the assistance of nuclear energy," Cojuangco said.