The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Saturday that an inter-agency task force is currently evaluating the potential of nuclear power as an alternative energy source to meet the country's growing energy demand.
DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales revealed during a media forum in Quezon City that the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) is conducting a thorough study on the feasibility of harnessing nuclear energy, taking into consideration the associated risks.
“We are studying it and hopefully, babalik tayo doon sa situation na charting our course depende sa situation which potentially becomes part of the energy needs of the Philippines in the future,” Sales stated.
However, Sales emphasized that the country has yet to establish a regulatory framework for its utilization as an alternative power option.
Sales expressed that the Philippines remains open to the idea of employing nuclear energy to address the country's power challenges, adding that various studies are being conducted.
“Of course, mayroong ginagawang maraming pag-aaral tungkol dito… Open ang nuclear option para sa atin. Meaning to say, there are many kinds of nuclear technologies [available],” he added.
The NEP-IAC Steering Committee is scheduled to convene for a meeting next week to further discuss this matter.
