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Friday, March 29, 2024

Govt adopts nuclear policy

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The Energy Department is keen on including nuclear power in the country’s energy energy mix to provide long-term energy supply, as it prepares to submit the national nuclear energy position to Malacañang.

“Based on the technical assessment,  the use of nuclear technologies, including nuclear energy, is seen as a long-term energy option for the country. The possible inclusion of nuclear power in the current energy mix is consistent with the national policy towards a technology-neutral energy sector,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.

Cusi and the other energy officials met with International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Yukiya Amano during a courtesy call Thursday.

Cusi said the bilateral meeting “comes at an opportune time as the DoE will submit its recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte on the country’s position on the civilian use of nuclear technology following a series of technical cooperation with IAEA.”

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The department’s recommendations on the country’s national position included the results of the energy planning studies implemented under IAEA’s technical cooperation projects.

The meeting also discussed the scope of IAEA’s work and its role in assisting member-states in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the use of nuclear science technology for socio-economic development in the country.

Aside from the on-going technical cooperation, the department presented its activities concerning the crafting of a national position.

The report touched on the possible cooperation in areas such as human resource development, nuclear safety, legal and regulatory framework, international standards, cooperation with international community, stakeholders involvement and challenges which include the closure on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Amano discussed the wide ranging applications of nuclear science in the areas of health and medicine, agriculture, water treatment and sanitation and the environment.

He said commitments made in COP 21 would not be achieved without the use of nuclear technology.

Cusi, meanwhile, asked IAEA to assist the Philippines in providing nuclear courses and trainings for schools on nuclear science for energy, medicine, agriculture, environment and climate change. 

Cusi said earlier the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant could still be rehabilitated, based on reports from nuclear experts.

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