Here’s the warning of a Fil-Am geologist about reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
DR. KELVIN RODOLFO – A Filipino-American geologist believes that reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is dangerous.
BNPP is one of the biggest projects of the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. However, it was not fully utilized because of the various criticisms it received from experts.
In an interview, last March, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Carlo Arcilla said that the Philippines may start running a nuclear power plant in 5 years if the proposed program will proceed without any obstacles.
According to him, South Korea has offered to rehabilitate the Bataan plant for $1.1 billion.
On the other hand, it was on May 23 when President-elect Bongbong Marcos revealed that South Korea has recommended reviving the BNPP.
Marcos believes the Philippines needs various sources of energy especially since there is already a crisis in the country when it comes to the power supply.
But for Filipino-American geologist, Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo, reviving BNPP is dangerous.
In a webinar, Dr. Rodolfo said that reviving BNPP would be hazardous because of its location. It is located near Mt. Natib, a volcano that has the possibility to become active.
He claimed that five countries are not in favor of reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Among those are Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea, despite offering to rehabilitate BNPP.
“I hope that all of these countries will be so worried so that the international atomic agency will not allow us to open it. Of course the nuclear industry is so crazy, who knows what they can do,” Rodolfo said.
He’s also concerned about its effect on nature.
“The biggest problem with the BNPP is ‘yung used fuel, after 4-6 years 20 percent of fuel assembly uranium remains, it’s very radioactive,” he said.
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