Can Cebu host nuclear power plants?
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The global energy crisis that the war in the Middle East triggered has prompted renewed interest in operating nuclear power plants in the Philippines.
But can Cebu host one? Supporters say yes.
“Cebu can supply the Visayas. Unless you want Negros to do it [and] that’s your [Cebu] loss,” said Rep. Mark Cojuangco of the 2nd District of Pangasinan.
READ: PH eyes use of small nuclear reactors for power generation
Cojuangco, who chairs the House Committee on nuclear energy, visited Cebu City to host talks pushing for nuclear power as a “clean, reliable, and cheap” source of electricity.
“If we are serious about securing a stable and affordable energy future, we must take a clear and deliberate path forward. Nuclear energy must not be just an option; it is a necessity,” he added.
More Filipinos support nuclear power
Advocacy group Alpas Pinas, in a media briefing, also presented findings from a 2024 survey by Social Weather Station and Department of Energy, indicating an increase in support for nuclear power among average Filipinos.
More than 70 percent of the over 7,200 respondents surveyed favored nuclear power in delivering “reliable electricity, reduce reliance on imported fuels, create jobs, and help fight climate change.”
Meanwhile, 76 percent of Filipinos expressed eagerness to learn more about nuclear energy.
READ: PH, US team up to boost nuclear energy bid in domestic economy
Likewise, the 2024 Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy showed a significant rise in strong approval for the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
“Because now more than ever, we really need nuclear energy sa ating bansa. Hindi naman po bago ang nuclear (Nuclear power is nothing new). This is not a newly found thing. This has been with us for 75 years, and there are 31 countries that have nuclear energy,” said Gayle Certeza, Alpas Pinas lead convenor.
Government support
In an attempt to kickstart support for nuclear power, Cojuangco filed House Bill No. 8567, which prescribes incentives for the integration of nuclear energy into the country’s electricity sector.
The bill also outlines funding mechanisms and policy direction to accelerate the development of nuclear power, positioning it as a cornerstone of a more secure, stable, and economically resilient energy system.
The lawmaker believes that if the Philippines wants to have nuclear power to energize the entire country, the government should be leading the way.
“Why wait for the investors? Why not get the government to do it?” Cojuangco said.
The same DOE and SWS survey likewise showed that 65 percent believe the government alone should own and run the BNPP.
Additionally, 25 percent favor a partnership between the government and the private sector.
Asia
Across Asia, where energy triage efforts range from increased coal use to purchases of Russian crude oil, countries with nuclear plants seek to get more out of their existing reactors.
The continent suffered first and hardest following disruptions to fuel-conveying shipping routes. Africa swiftly followed.
African and Asian nations with nuclear plants presently increase their output as they scramble for short-term energy supplies, while non-nuclear countries accelerate long-term nuclear plans to safeguard against future fossil fuel shocks.
However, nuclear power does not constitute a quick fix for the current energy crisis.
Developing atomic energy can take decades, especially for nuclear newcomers.
But long-term commitments to nuclear power made now will likely lock it in to countries’ future energy mixes, said Joshua Kurlantzick of the Council on Foreign Relations. / with reports from Philippine News Agency, Associated Press
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