by Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII

In recent months, the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant has been floated around as several experts believe that it would greatly help in addressing the rising cost of fuel and electricity in the country.

Director Carlo A. Arcilla of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), in his interview with DOSTv’s ExperTalk Online aired live on 29 June 2022, shared that nuclear has been with us for 60 years and could offer us the cleanest source of baseload power at lesser cost. 

He shared that currently our energy mix is composed of 60% coal which we import mostly from Indonesia and 20% from the Malampaya gas field. Dir. Arcilla suggested that nuclear can help in supplying the 20% presently supplied by the Malampaya gas field which is fast depleting. 

“Actually, renewables at nuclear can complement each other. Kaso ang problema kasi sa wind and solar, variable siya, nakadepende siya kung maaraw o hindi, 30% lang ang capacity factor niya unless, kailangan mo ng backup, unless mayroon kang battery na mahal,” said Dir. Arcilla. 

(Actually, renewables and nuclear can complement each other. Wind and solar depend on the status of the weather. To add to that, it has only 30% capacity factor unless you have expensive battery.) 

Dir. Arcilla also shared another issue concerning solar energy it requires one hectare of land to produce one megawatt, and this will become more challenging since the Philippines is an archipelagic country. 

“Nuclear is more of a baseload energy meaning it is more reliable due to its continuous production of energy. It could provide backup for wind and solar,” explained Dir. Arcilla. 

Meanwhile, when it comes to nuclear waste, he recommended what is called “Deep Borehole Disposal”. 

“Ang isang tanong palagi, saan mo ilalagay ang nuclear waste? Ang waste kasi ng nuclear, ayan ang mahirap na i-handle kasi tatagal iyan ng 10,000 years at dapat i-isolate siya sa human environment,” said Dir. Arcilla. 

(One question is where we can put those nuclear waste? It is very challenging to manage the nuclear waste as it will last up to 10,000 years. So that, we need to isolate them from the human environment.) 

“Bakit Deep Borehole Disposal? Kasi ang Pilipinas ngayon may geothermal, mayroon tayong kakayahan na humukay up to three kilometers deep. So ang maaaring gawin natin ay kumuha ng isolated island, bubutas tayo ng one kilometer, i-plug mo iyan ng bentonite, whose negative crystal layers will absorb the positive uranium ions,” said Dir. Arcilla. 

(Why Deep Borehole Disposal? In the Philippines, we have the capability to drill up to three kilometers. So, what we can do is to get an isolated island, we drill up to one kilometer then we plug with bentonite.)

Meanwhile, in the issue of safety, Dir. Arcilla emphasized that nuclear has been with us for 60 years. There were some accidents but have minimal casualties and are isolated incidences. 

“If you look at the number of hours operated by coal and gas versus nuclear, nuclear has one of the lowest, kaya niya lang spectacular kapag nagkaroon ng accident. So ayun ang issue. Pero in terms of lives lost, minimal lang. Kasi kung nagpatakbo ka ng nuclear, ibig sabihin hindi tumatakbo ang coal, hindi ka nagbubuga ng carbon dioxide,” explained Dir. Arcilla. 

(If you look at the number of hours operated by coal and gas versus nuclear; nuclear has one of the lowest incidents. Though if there is an accident, it could be spectacular. That is the issue. However, in terms of lives lost, it is minimal. If you are running nuclear, you are not burning coal; meaning it is not releasing carbon dioxide.) 

He stressed that nuclear, in general, will be helpful for all especially if risks are managed properly. Then he added that if people have concerns with nuclear, he notes that the United States has allowed the operation of 94 nuclear power plants with average lifespan of 60 years, supplying 20% of its energy requirements.

Dir. Arcilla also shared that in 2019, the Department of Energy, through the assistance of Social Weather Station, conducted a survey of 5,000 Filipinos, that showed 79% are in favor of utilizing nuclear power for electric generation due to high electricity cost. 

“May nagsasabi kasi na mahal ang nuclear power, totoo mahal lalo na kung magsisimula kang gawa ng malaking planta kasi capital cost ay malaki. Pero i-amortized mo iyan over 60 to 80 years, mura pa rin. At isa sa napaka-importanteng reason ay walang binubugang carbon dioxide, it is the cleanest source of baseload power on earth right now,” stressed Dir. Arcilla. 

(There were comments that nuclear is expensive. Definitely, it is expensive due to its huge capital cost. However, if you amortize it for over 60 to 80 years; it would become cheaper. And most importantly, it does not release carbon dioxide; it is the cleanest source of baseload power on earth right now.)

“Let’s believe the science, especially sa mga ganitong isyu. Kasi kung life and death ang pag-uusapan, you have to rely on science. Dapat evidence-based, kung transparent naman ang naging proseso ng pag-aaral, let’s move forward, huwag tayo magpapigil sa takot, truth drives out fear,” said Dir. Arcilla. 

(Let’s work on the science, especially in this kind of issue. When we talk about life and death issues; we have to rely on science. It should be evidence-based and if the process of several studies have been transparent, let’s move forward, truth drives out fear.) 

To watch the full interview of Dir. Arcilla, please watch the ExperTalk Online episode aired on June 29, 2022 at DOSTv Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DOSTvPH/videos/702981567438823 and DOSTv YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32PWjmxp71g&t=629s. 

In his interview with DOSTv’s ExperTalk Online aired on June 29, 2022, DOST-PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla shares how the country would benefit from nuclear power as a source of energy. (Screenshot from ExperTalk Online episode)