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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The energy panel of the Congressional Commission on Science,
Technology and Engineering (Comste), urged Monday that the
Philippines re-explore seriously the nuclear power option and clean
coal technology to lessen its dependence on fossil fuel-driven
energy mix that has become more expensive.
“We realize that the nuclear option will
entail a lot of public consultations and debate, but there are new
developments in the nuclear industry that merit a reexamination of
this technology,” Dr. Francisco Viray, a former Energy secretary
and panel head, said at the Comste en banc meeting at the Sofitel
Philippine Plaza.
Sen. Edgardo Angara, co-chair of Comste with
Rep. Emilio Abaya of Cavite, agreed on the need to take a second
look at nuclear energy.
The Philippines has mothballed the Bataan
nuclear power plant amid fears of its safety despite paying for it
in full. Angara said the new nuclear power plant would not be
similar to the mothballed one in Bataan. He pointed out that
safety-conscious Taiwan, France and many other countries are now
operating cost-efficient nuclear power plants.
He admitted the issue of nuclear power could
generate a lot of passion in the Philippines, but this should not
stop the country from looking into it as an alternative source of
energy.
“Aside from emotionalism, one problem facing
the issue of nuclear energy is the absence of nuclear physicists in
the country,” Angara said.
Other energy saving measures
The energy panel also recommended a more
intensive research and development on the use of clean coal in power
generation. The use of coal has been vehemently objected to by
environmentalists but the panel said that clean coal promises to
significantly cut emissions to safer levels.
“But a major focus of research and development
should be in the massive containment of the carbon dioxide that it
will generate,” the panel report added.
It also stressed the need for energy
conservation hand-in-hand with clean energy and renewable energy. It
lamented that energy efficiency and conservation are thought of only
in terms of voluntarily turning off coffeemakers when the pots are
empty, or adjusting the thermostats of airconditioners. It
recommended research and development in areas like “smart
appliances” or appliances that automatically shift into
power-saving mode.
“With energy conservation and efficiency
research, both into encouraging citizen volunteerism and encouraging
the development of smart appliances, we may be able to cut energy
demand without sacrificing growth and reduce the demand for spinning
reserves and new power plants,” the panel said.
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