QUEZON CITY, Philippines (18 March 2022) – Greenpeace Philippines on Friday said that the Duterte administration’s policy to adopt nuclear energy is not a solution to any oil and energy crises and corresponding price hikes, as the huge costs of nuclear power will place a heavier burden on the economy and the environment, as well as Filipinos’ health and finances.
At the online press briefing, the environmental group’s senior nuclear expert Shaun Burnie presented how much nuclear power and nuclear waste management actually costs, and the common issues on nuclear waste and safety in power plants around the world.
“Nuclear power doesn’t provide any unique benefit that can’t be provided by other sources–and at the same time, it’s a source of unfathomable risk,” said Burnie. “Countries that have pursued nuclear power are now seeing that they are ‘locked in’ to this unsustainable power source, and many are struggling to safely contain radioactive waste, and dismantle and decommission nuclear plants. The real picture is not as rosy as the industry would like us to believe.”
“The government’s justifications for pursuing nuclear are all based on false information. Nuclear power is neither the ‘cheap’ nor ‘clean’ energy source the administration is claiming it to be,” said Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu. “Aside from the huge costs of building and sustaining nuclear plants, Filipinos will have to contend with the still-unresolved issue of radioactive nuclear waste, and the damage it can cause to communities. It also won’t lessen our dependence on imported fuel. Instead of easing our current struggles, any administration that takes this on is only going to make life worse for Filipinos.”
Greenpeace is demanding that President Rodrigo Duterte revoke EO 164 and abandon nuclear energy as an option. In a series of creative protests in Manila and Bataan last week, groups demanded that the DOE stop peddling foreign nuclear energy interests, and instead deliver a concrete, sustainable, and safe solution to the energy crisis through renewable energy.
Derek Cabe, national coordinator of the Nuclear- and Coal-Free Bataan Movement, said the proposal to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is already worrying nearby communities.
“If our experience with the coal plant within our vicinity is any indication, and with the worsening climate crisis, dirty and dangerous energy sources could mean a death sentence for Filipinos,” Cabe said. “Nuclear is even more dangerous than coal and other fossil fuels. Aside from this, the water supply and natural resources we rely on would potentially be affected. Fishers would be forced to leave their fishing grounds because of possible radiation. Are our health, safety, and livelihood only second to investments and profit?”
With the expected rise of electricity rates and costs of commodities, on top of yearly losses and damages from the climate crisis, Greenpeace underscored the need for the outgoing and incoming governments to address the country’s worsening energy security and climate resilience by expediting the shift towards renewable energy. Recent disasters like the 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture—a known site of the country’s nuclear power plants—only shows the constant risk presented by this energy source.
“Nuclear is just not worth it when we know that renewable energy costs a lot less and carries very little risk. What’s more, we already have the resources to make that transition, with abundant sunshine and wind, renewable energy is our competitive advantage.” Yu said. “With the climate crisis being much worse than expected, we cannot afford another costly distraction to the climate issue, which is what this nuclear railroading really is.”
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Notes to Editors:
[1] Greenpeace on ‘fishy’ midnight nuclear deals: PH gov’t claims on nuclear ‘not grounded in reality’;
The feds have collected more than $44 billion for a permanent nuclear waste dump — here’s why we still don’t have one
[2] Costs for managing Japan’s nuclear plants to total 13 trillion yen;
Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
[3] DOE lists 25 CREZ that could generate 808 GW of electricity
Media Contact:
Katrina Eusebio
Digital Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +639992296451
Johanna Fernandez
Communications & Digital Manager, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines [email protected] | +639209759844
Greenpeace is demanding that the government pursue a transformative energy policy grounded on clean, safe, and accessible renewable energy. Sign the petition to say #NoToNukes >> http://act.gp/nonukesph