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Friday, June 27, 2008

Philippines mulls revival of nuclear power plant

The Philippines said Thursday it is considering reviving a nuclear power plant amid the continued increase of fuel prices.

The Philippines has invited International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to organize a multi-disciplinary and independent fact-finding and safety assessment mission to check if its Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) can be used as an alternative to generate energy, according to a statement of the Foreign Affairs Department released on Thursday.

The IAEA mission was to help determine whether: BNPP-1 could still be rehabilitated to generate power, and find out the corresponding technical, budgetary and safety requirements needed, the statement said.

The Philippine Department of Energy has received the final IAEA Mission Report and is now carefully reviewing it, the statement said.

The BNPP power plant is a complete pressurized water reactor that was mothballed in 1986.

The statement said the Philippines was cited in the IAEA's Annual Report for its efforts to finalize a Comprehensive Nuclear Law, which has been submitted to Congress and is now under active consideration.

Recently, Manila has submitted to the Vienna-based organization eight new proposals for national projects to be funded by the IAEA Technical Cooperation Fund for 2009-2010.

Two major projects include the establishment of an electron beam facility and the upgrading of the radio pharmaceutical laboratory, according to the statement.

"These projects will contribute to new applications of radiation technology in the country, and make nuclear medicine procedures widely available and affordable," it said.

Currently, the Philippines is a member of the IAEA Board of Governors.

(Source: Xinhua)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My province has deep business relations with the Phillipines. I've found them to be a kind, empathetic and patient people. In my province we are increasingly outsourcing back office functions to the Phillipines. Sometimes hiring people there directly, and sometimes outsourcing.

As their nation develops naturally they will need much more electricity. And it is a substantial nation, over 80 million people.

--aa2