According to reports, debt repayment on the plant became the country’s biggest single obligation. The final payment of $15 million was settled in April last year. <---- good thing payments has been completed

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Napocor, Korea power firm to sign MOU for study on BNPP rehabilitation
By Helen Flores Updated December 01, 2008 12:00 AM

The National Power Corp. (Napocor) will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Korea-based Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) for the conduct of a feasibility study on the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), officials said over the weekend.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) director Dr. Alumanda de la Rosa said the feasibility study will last for about 18 months. She, however, did not give other details.

Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said while studies are being done to look into possibility of rehabilitating the BNPP, the government is focused on educating the public about nuclear power and creating a pool of competitive nuclear scientists.

“We really have to educate our people before we can pursue it (nuclear power),” Alabastro said in a recent press conference at the closing ceremony of the 9th Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) held in Manila.

Alabastro said the government has funded the development of human resources in nuclear engineering to create a corps of nuclear scientists and technical experts that will study various aspects in nuclear power plant operations such as siting, safety and security, transport of nuclear fuel, health and environment impact, social acceptability and disposal.

The $2.3-billion power plant was mothballed in 1986 after international experts declared it “unsafe and inoperable” as it was built near major earthquake fault lines and close to dormant volcanoes. It never produced a single watt of electricity.

The Department of Energy had sought the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria in assessing the BNPP, following moves to tap nuclear energy in the country.

The IAEA earlier said the BNPP’s status must be “thoroughly evaluated.” It also advised the Philippine government to start its nuclear power program, stressing that the proper infrastructure, safety standards, and knowledge be implemented.

“In the case of Bataan, the plant was completed over 20 years ago. Our mission visited the plant to gauge the current state of the plant, but our suggestion to the Philippines was simply on what steps they need to take and what needs to be considered to complete their own assessment,” said Akira Omoto, director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Power and leader of the mission to the Philippines.

“The government has to assess what the new licensing requirements should be, how to modernize the two-decade old technology to current standards, and how to confirm that all aspects of the plant will function properly and safely. It is not the IAEA’s role to state whether the plant is usable or not, or how much it will cost to rehabilitate,” Omoto said.

According to reports, debt repayment on the plant became the country’s biggest single obligation. The final payment of $15 million was settled in April last year.

Bag-o na naman na nga utang eh...

Tsk..Tsk..Tsk..

I smell a new scam?...

:lol:


But if they can pull this project through... in favor ako diri. Cheap electricty na ni ayhan?...puerte kamahal ang kuryente diri sa Metro Manila eh...