The issue on the revival of the 630-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) has generated fresh opposition from anti-nuclear veterans and advocates in Central Luzon. This is healthy news for us for we are assured that people are still watching the government amid the day-to-day crisis that confronts us today.
The recent forum and torch parade in Balanga City seems to be very fruitful for the anti-nuke groups as major leaders including Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio joined them. This could inspire others to join the crusade as well if only to prevent this government from committing a serious mistake.
Secretary Angelo Reyes and the House of Representatives earlier mulled on reopening the BNPP after a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the power plant and reported its possible rehabilitation.
Reyes was quoted as saying that the BNPP could be restored in at least five years for a cost of $800 million. Take note, US$800 million just to rehabilitate it. The national government says that the US2.3 billion used to build the power plant went down the drain because it never generated a single watt of electricity.
In fact, we are still paying 155,000 dollars a day in interest on the BNPP. For about 30 years, the national government is still wasting taxpayers’ money for this white elephant structure.
The energy secretary said that it is wise to revisit the option of restoring it so we could at least generate power before we experience shortage. And when it starts operating, it could possible generate income to pay the government’s standing debts incurred from its construction.
But while the national government is counting on still unhatched eggs, the issue of safety, capability and expertise is now being raised by the anti-nuclear advocates.
First point, as Reyes said, we need US$800 million fresh capital to rebuild it. Of course, we will loan it and then start paying new interest until may be forever. Second, we do not even have a research facility or a well-organized and well-trained physicists or scientists to man the BNPP. Our government is experiencing a condition called amnesia. They forgot that before they woke up and suddenly decided to reopen the BNPP issue, the national government did not prepare for this.
I would appreciate the wisdom of their proposal should a comprehensive and capability-building plan was laid down, let’s say, at least five years before today. This would signal the government’s seriousness and sincerity to operate the BNPP with the utmost safety and efficiency.
Another issue is the operational expenses of the power plant needed should it become operational. Where will the government get huge amount of money to run it in a day-to-day basis? Rebuilding it will require us US$800 million but to operate it would mean additional expense.
Also, whether we admit it or not, we have yet to train our physicists to oversee BNPP’s operations. In the meantime, we will have no choice but to hire imports from Russia or United States. And how much would these physicists’ salaries cost?
I chanced upon an old friend, Pat Esguerra two weeks ago. His youngest son, Perry Esguerra, a gifted person and a genius who is now teaching at UP Diliman, was involved in the investigation of BNPP in the 80’s. A young physicists and an undisputed genius of his time, Perry and his team concluded then that we are not capable of manning the BNPP. Also, they found out that there are safety concerns that were not properly addressed during BNPP’s construction.
Given these arguments, I am still wondering why the national government is hell bent on pushing for the rehabilitation of this power plant. I do not want to think that they need the money for the 2010 elections. That would be very rude of me. But come to think of it, the timing is very very very suspicious.
I just hope that more and more people will join in the crusade against the rehabilitation and operation of BNPP.
The recent forum and torch parade in Balanga City seems to be very fruitful for the anti-nuke groups as major leaders including Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio joined them. This could inspire others to join the crusade as well if only to prevent this government from committing a serious mistake.
Secretary Angelo Reyes and the House of Representatives earlier mulled on reopening the BNPP after a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the power plant and reported its possible rehabilitation.
Reyes was quoted as saying that the BNPP could be restored in at least five years for a cost of $800 million. Take note, US$800 million just to rehabilitate it. The national government says that the US2.3 billion used to build the power plant went down the drain because it never generated a single watt of electricity.
In fact, we are still paying 155,000 dollars a day in interest on the BNPP. For about 30 years, the national government is still wasting taxpayers’ money for this white elephant structure.
The energy secretary said that it is wise to revisit the option of restoring it so we could at least generate power before we experience shortage. And when it starts operating, it could possible generate income to pay the government’s standing debts incurred from its construction.
But while the national government is counting on still unhatched eggs, the issue of safety, capability and expertise is now being raised by the anti-nuclear advocates.
First point, as Reyes said, we need US$800 million fresh capital to rebuild it. Of course, we will loan it and then start paying new interest until may be forever. Second, we do not even have a research facility or a well-organized and well-trained physicists or scientists to man the BNPP. Our government is experiencing a condition called amnesia. They forgot that before they woke up and suddenly decided to reopen the BNPP issue, the national government did not prepare for this.
I would appreciate the wisdom of their proposal should a comprehensive and capability-building plan was laid down, let’s say, at least five years before today. This would signal the government’s seriousness and sincerity to operate the BNPP with the utmost safety and efficiency.
Another issue is the operational expenses of the power plant needed should it become operational. Where will the government get huge amount of money to run it in a day-to-day basis? Rebuilding it will require us US$800 million but to operate it would mean additional expense.
Also, whether we admit it or not, we have yet to train our physicists to oversee BNPP’s operations. In the meantime, we will have no choice but to hire imports from Russia or United States. And how much would these physicists’ salaries cost?
I chanced upon an old friend, Pat Esguerra two weeks ago. His youngest son, Perry Esguerra, a gifted person and a genius who is now teaching at UP Diliman, was involved in the investigation of BNPP in the 80’s. A young physicists and an undisputed genius of his time, Perry and his team concluded then that we are not capable of manning the BNPP. Also, they found out that there are safety concerns that were not properly addressed during BNPP’s construction.
Given these arguments, I am still wondering why the national government is hell bent on pushing for the rehabilitation of this power plant. I do not want to think that they need the money for the 2010 elections. That would be very rude of me. But come to think of it, the timing is very very very suspicious.
I just hope that more and more people will join in the crusade against the rehabilitation and operation of BNPP.
