7 December 2021 — The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute on Monday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to sign an executive order seeking to tap nuclear energy as part of the country’s energy mix.
Reacting to the appeal, Greenpeace Campaigner Khevin Yu said:
“This is a desperate attempt to pass an unacceptable and dangerous energy source. Contrary to DOST-PNRI’s misguided expectation that it will alleviate Filipinos’ struggle with high electricity costs, nuclear energy is an expensive source of energy, and one that poses high risks.
“Nuclear proponents are very misled if they believe that nuclear energy will lower electricity rates in the country. Nuclear power plants are too expensive to build and would require longer timelines to complete, which may lead to further increases in electricity prices and energy insecurity due to delays in construction. Moreover, the steep capital costs for the construction and operation of nuclear plants are even outweighed by the costs for managing a nuclear accident, which can reach billions of dollars in the long run. In many cases, it is the governments and citizens that bear the cost.
“We urge President Duterte to ditch all plans and proposals for including nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix, as the administration strives to ‘leave a lasting legacy.’ The Duterte administration wouldn’t possibly want a Fukushima or Chernobyl nuclear incident in the country, on top of the impacts of the climate crisis we are already facing.
“The best legacy that President Duterte can leave the Filipino people is to provide cheap, accessible, and renewable energy such as solar and wind.”
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Media contact:
Khevin Yu
Greenpeace Philippines Campaigner
[email protected] | +63 998 966 4807
Angeli Cantillana
Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 998 595 9733