Russia To Build Land-Based, Floating Nuclear Plants In Philippines Under Duterte Gov’t
The Philippine government under the administration of
President Rodrigo Duterte may build nuclear power plants for deployment on land
or sea, while simultaneously studying the revival of the postponed Bataan
Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) with the help of Russian technology, Russia’s
state-owned nuclear agency said on Tuesday, November 14.
In a statement to the Inquirer, State Corporation Rosatom
said the Russian and Philippine governments “intend to cooperate in the
development of the national nuclear infrastructure in the Republic of the
Philippines to support further implementation of the peaceful nuclear program
in the country.”
The Russian agency said both governments will “explore the
possibilities for the construction of land-based or floating nuclear power
plants equipped with small modular reactors in the Republic of the
Philippines.”
“In addition, the technical conditions of the Bataan Nuclear
Power Plant will be assessed to determine the possibility of its reopening and
eventual commissioning,” it added.
A memorandum of understanding defining the terms of the
cooperation was signed between Rosatom’s deputy director general for international
relations Nikolay Spasskiy and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on the sidelines
of the Asean Summit on Manila.
Cusi has earlier indicated his desire to revive the BNPP, which
was completed in the early 1980s, costing around $2.3 million.
BNPP took 10 years to build, but is now on “preservation mode” since former President Corazon Aquino refused to activate it in 1986.
BNPP took 10 years to build, but is now on “preservation mode” since former President Corazon Aquino refused to activate it in 1986.
“Today we have agreed on cooperation on a wide range of
issues,” Spasskiy said.
“Rosatom possesses a unique experience in the field of
nuclear power plant construction projects and nuclear infrastructure
development in many countries around the globe and we are ready to actively
share this experience with our Philippine partners,” he added.
The partners also plan to set up joint working groups aiming
to exchange specialists and technical information, to conduct seminars and
personnel training.
In May 2017, Rosatom and the Department of Science and
Technology of the Republic of the Philippines also signed a memorandum of understanding
on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Source: INQUIRER
Russia To Build Land-Based, Floating Nuclear Plants In Philippines Under Duterte Gov’t
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November 20, 2017
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