Philippines to Go Nuclear

It is only a matter of time before the Philippines experience power/energy shortage. I mean, as far as I know, our main sources of energy are fossil (imports, local such as Galoc, Malampaya, etc), hydroelectric, wind, and probably a little of solar. Fossil fuels still account for the primary source of energy. But with what is happening now (Russia withholding supply, OPEC regulating distribution also), we should be focusing on looking for a new source.

The proposal to revive the Bataan nuclear power plant can never be so timely than right now.

“We have a nuclear power plant that’s already fully paid for that has never generated a single watt of power,” said Congressman Mark Cojuango, who has drafted a bill to recommission the plant. “And I don’t think it would be a big problem to evaluate whether this plant is viable and, if it is, why not run it straight away? I really believe that Bataan does not need that much rehabilitation. “The outside of the Westinghouse-designed plant is badly worn, with rusted ladders, crumbling masonry and jammed doors.Inside, the control room looks like the set of a 1970s James Bond film — there’s not a computer in sight and everything is analogue.But the massive turbine and the surprisingly small reactor look pristine to the naked eye.(See complete story here.)

   This is not Bataan Nuclear Power Plant..

The potential benefit of going nuclear is massive! It doesn’t take a physicist to understand how much energy can be derived from nuclear power. (Or if you have no idea at all, maybe you have watched Back to the Future II where the Doc used a banana peel and left-over beer to power the DeLorean through nuclear fusion? Awesome, yeah?)

There are risks, of course; there will always be risk. But what kind of new venture doesn’t have any? Chernobyl is on one end of the normal curve with the European Union, USA, France, Japan, Russia, and a few other developed economies on the middle to the other end of the curve (check this list).

We should start looking way beyond presidential terms and short-term public criticisms. The long-term picture is this: We will be lacking power/energy source soon if we can’t find an alternative source. (And we know this alternative source is not wind energy nor solar energy.)

Not-so- off-topic thoughts:

• If there were only a way to convert graft and corruption to energy, the Philippines would have been energy self-sufficient long time ago.
• Imagine being a nuclear country: The Philippines can now be considered a threat to global peace and stability! Awesomtastic!!! (Why not? Would you rather be known as a threat to utensils on international flights/airplanes; perfume, soaps, and toiletries from hotels; and/or resident of the text capital of the world? Hehehe.)