Cojuangco opposes Bataan plant privatization

Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco and nuclear advocacy group Alpas Pinas have called for the revival of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) in Bataan under government ownership, opposing proposals to privatize the facility.

Cojuangco, chairperson of the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy, said Friday that the government already owns the plant outright and its benefits should accrue to Filipinos, who funded its construction.

“If nuclear energy and the operation of the PNPP in Bataan provide benefits, should these not accrue to the people rather than become profits for a private company?” he said during a press briefing in Quezon City.

Cojuangco said revenues from the plant could help finance additional nuclear facilities, citing South Korea’s expansion of its nuclear power fleet. He added that private companies could be tapped through competitive bidding to rehabilitate, operate and maintain the plant, provided they demonstrate the necessary expertise.

He questioned the private sector’s record in ensuring affordable and reliable electricity, noting that the country continues to face power supply shortages and grid alerts.

Cojuangco said the government could borrow $14 billion to rehabilitate the PNPP and build additional AP1000 reactors, potentially increasing total capacity from 620 megawatts to 4,070 megawatts.

Alpas Pinas lead convenor Gayle Certeza also backed the plant’s revival, saying nuclear power could help address high electricity costs and inadequate supply.

“We really need nuclear energy because this is our way out of the persistent poverty that we are experiencing,” Certeza said, calling for clean, affordable and reliable electricity.

She cited nuclear power’s average capacity factor of about 92 percent, compared with 15 percent for solar power, which depends on sunlight and weather conditions.