Pangasinan opens itself as possible host of nuclear power plants
February 17, 2010 12:29 am
By Leonardo V. Micua
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 16 — The provincial board, with only one objection and two abstentions, passed a resolution virtually opening its door to any one, foreign or local, who may want to build a nuclear power plant..
The move was undertaken despite the fact that Pangasinan was already the location of the 1,200 Megawatt Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant operated by Team Energy as well as the 345-megawatt San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam Project being operated by the San Roque Power Corporation.
Ten provincial board members relied on the word of Rep. Mark Cojuangco of the Fifth District of Pangasinan that a nuclear power plant would be a big boon to the province and people as it would make the province ultimately brownout free.
Only one board member opposed the measure, not on the substantive issue but only due to what he called breach in procedures. Two others abstained while another two were absent.
Cojuangco was the principal author of a bill in the House of Representatives seeking the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant but which may have already died a natural death after it failed to pass before Congress adjourned session last week.
Frustrated that his bill did not pass the legislative mill up to the last session day in Congress for lack of quorum, Cojuangco ran to the provincial board of Pangasinan to push a different initiative in his effort to make way for nuclear energy in the Philippines.
The son of industrialist Eduardo Cojuangco wants Pangasinan to take the lead in inviting a company from South Korea to relocate its at least two of its nuclear plants in the Philippines in order to avert a very serious power crisis in the Philippines soon.
He said if Pangasinan will be the host of the Korean Keido Assets, there will be a significant reduction in the retail price of electricity ranging from P2.50 to P3 per kilowatt hour.
With the nuclear plant in Pangasinan, Cojuangco added, Pangasinan could become a brownout-free zone.
He estimated the nuclear power plant's cost at US$ 5 billion.
Cojuangco noted that while under construction, the power plant can create thousands of jobs as well livelihood for the Pangasinenses.
On top of that, it will boost the income of the province and once it is operational, Pangasinan will be swarmed by investors, the lawmaker said.
In 2012, the power shortfall in the Luzon Grid alone is projected to reach 3,000 megawatts, thus the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and four more of this will still be needed, he said.
Cojuangco noted that the two nuclear plants of Keido Assets can generate 2,000 megawatts or 1,000 megawatts each. Thus, 1,000 megawatts are still needed to plug the shortfall.
The provincial board members who agreed to Cojuangco’s proposal were Alfonso Bince Jr., Angel Baniqued, Romeo Dadacay, Tyrone Agabas, Danilo Dizon, Danilo Uy, Charissma Carancho Go, Jeremy Regino and Amadeo Espino.
Only one Provincial Board Member, Raul Sison, opposed the resolution but clarified that his objection was merely on procedural ground, in view of the fact that the committee report on the matter did not go through the process of deliberation on the floor.
Those who abstained were Board Member Von Mark Mendoza and Alice Pulido. Absent were Board Members Nestor Reyes and Liberato Reyna. (PNA)
LAP/Lvm/lvmicua/rma
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