Nuclear policy expected to be issued soon, Energy dep’t says

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Wednesday that it expects President Rodrigo R. Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) outlining a policy on nuclear energy soon.

“We heard from the Office of the President that the policy (on nuclear energy) will be approved soon, it’s an EO. (The Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee) is just looking into the framework of the policy,” Energy Undersecretary Gerardo D. Erguiza said at a virtual briefing.

The nuclear policy is among the components of the Nuclear Energy Program, which will also require the drafting of a framework, legislation, compliance with international standards, and stakeholder consultation.

“We are in a good direction regarding our nuclear (energy prospects) and Russia is in the picture as one of the principal providers of nuclear power plants as they have good technology,” Mr. Erguiza said.

He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not expected to affect plans for a Russian role in developing nuclear infrastructure here.

In 2017, the Philippines signed an agreement with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. to help develop facilities preparatory to building power plants.

“We don’t see any problem with Russia on (energy) cooperation because it’s cooperation in building the nuclear infrastructure. We won’t immediately build a power plant, but… we have to come up with many studies (on) safety, security, (fuel) management, and radiation,” he said.

The DoE hopes to complete by April a feasibility study with Russia on nuclear energy.

The Philippines also has an agreement to collaborate with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. to develop small modular reactors, and plans to start in two weeks a collaboration with the US to study modular technology as well.

Small modular reactors are fission reactors capable of producing up to 300 megawatts. — Marielle C. Lucenio