By Sheldeen Joy Talavera, A reporter
The PHILIPPINES may end up generating power from nuclear power plants as early as 2035, a three-year delay from the original target, due to extensive regulatory and safety approvals, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).
“The integration of the grid, except for the changes currently made to the Philippine Grid Code and all other technical requirements, the actual injection of energy will start around 2035 to 2038,” said Energy Utilization and Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino in a public consultation on Thursday.
The DoE is drafting regulations to guide developers and stakeholders for an organized auction of the country’s first nuclear power plants.
The proposed timeline for grid integration, however, shows that the government will fall short of its original goal of having at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) of commercial power plants by 2032.
Mr. Aquino said nuclear power production could begin as late as 2038, depending on how the consultant follows best practices and completes the licensing process, which is expected to take two years.
He said the construction alone could take years, making it unlikely that the plant will reach operational level by 2032.
“It’s going to slide a bit from 2032. That’s for sure,” he said.
From about 2030 to 2040, the capacity of nuclear power is expected to grow from 1,200 MW to 2,400 MW, according to Mr. Aquino.
The Philippines is positioning nuclear power to play an important role in diversifying the energy mix to meet the goals of reducing emissions and improving energy security.
Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed an initiative to establish a national framework for the peaceful and secure use of nuclear energy.
Republic Act (RA) No. 12305 also created the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), a private entity responsible for overseeing all nuclear and radiation-related activities in the Philippines.
Its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) are yet to be issued.
“Although it is true that the IRR is not yet in the area of RA 12305, the government has been continuously preparing for the needs and is ready to assist PhilATOM,” said Mr. Aquino.
Amid concerns about the safety of nuclear power plant operations, he said the production of energy from nuclear power would be heavily regulated.
“Everyone in this region, Southeast Asia and the world will be affected if we do this wrong,” Mr Aquino said. “When a power plant operates that does not meet safety, security and protection. That is why we comply with the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is why any movement of nuclear fuel or nuclear waste is highly regulated.”
Energy Secretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said the IRR represents an important step in the implementation of the National Nuclear Energy Program.
“Besides defining the tender instruments, it establishes a management framework that will help ensure that the country’s first nuclear power projects are conducted in a manner that raises public interest, inspires investors and gives Filipinos confidence,” he said.
