THE Department of Energy (DoE) has not given up on its goal of making nuclear energy one of the country鈥檚 power sources despite Malaca帽ang鈥檚 recent directive for government agencies to focus on projects that can be completed by 2022.
鈥Kailangan simulan na ngayon (It has to be started now),鈥 Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi told reporters last week after an energy event at the agency鈥檚 office in Taguig City.
He said the start of a nuclear plant is 鈥渁t least鈥 what he wanted to happen before the end of the current administration鈥檚 term in about two years.
鈥淓ven the plants that we are doing, even the coal (facilities), will not be realized within this administration — but we are preparing that for the 2024, 2027, 2030 (power supply requirement),鈥 he said.
He said holding off the DoE鈥檚 nuclear initiative would mean abandoning a possible source of energy should the next administration decide to sit on the program. He said the gestation period in building a nuclear power plant is long, making it necessary to act now.
He said he would devote the remaining years of his term to strengthen the energy sector to 鈥渟erve the Filipino better.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the 2030 requirement,鈥 he said or even earlier by 2024 to build up power facilities to meet the country鈥檚 future energy needs.
Mr. Cusi said the DoE continues to await the signing by the Office of the President of the country鈥檚 national position on nuclear power, which the department prepared.
鈥淭he President has been discerning what is really good. So pinag-aaralan natin (So we are studying it),鈥 he said.
He said should Malaca帽ang approve the DoE鈥檚 pro-nuclear policy, then the department will go to Congress to seek a legal framework to support the national position.
鈥Ito namang nuclear, hindi namannecessary ngayon (Nuclear is not necessary now). But we need this for our energy security for the future,鈥 he said, citing the country鈥檚 vulnerability to the prices of imported oil and the impact of climate change. — Victor V. Saulon
