Why the Philippines is reconsidering its long-shuttered nuclear power plant

The Philippines is weighing the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) to lower electricity rates, which rank as the third-most expensive in Asia according to 2023-2025 data from GlobalPetrolPrices.com. While the PhilAtom Law now facilitates nuclear energy, critics including church leaders and environmentalists cite geological risks and radioactive waste concerns.

Why are electricity rates so high in the Philippines?

Residential electricity costs in the Philippines are higher than almost every other Asian nation, trailing only Singapore and Japan, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com. This pricing stems from a combination of energy privatization and the logistical difficulty of moving power across an archipelago.

The country’s reliance on imports creates extreme volatility. Coal currently accounts for nearly 60% of power generation, with about 90% of that coal sourced from Indonesia. Congressman Mark Cojuangco describes the Philippines as a “fossil-fuel poor country,” arguing that this dependency is no longer acceptable for national security.

Will the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) lower costs?

Proponents believe reopening the BNPP or building new plants is the most strategic way to decouple the economy from global fuel markets. Nuclear energy is more energy-dense than other sources, according to retired Philippine Nuclear Research Institute director Carlo Arcilla, meaning small amounts of uranium produce vast amounts of power.

However, the BNPP carries a legacy of corruption and safety failures. Built during the 1973 oil crisis, it was closed shortly after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Opponents, such as Emily Fajardo of the local group KaBaRo-KaisaKa, argue that the plant’s original construction defects and the country’s location on major geological fault lines make it a dangerous option.

What is the PhilAtom Law and how does it work?

The Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, known as the PhilAtom Law, was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. late last year. The law creates an independent regulatory body to ensure the country meets International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.

The goal of the legislation is to “facilitate the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy” while attracting foreign investment. Despite the law, officials warn that bringing any nuclear plant online will take more than a decade.

Nuclear vs. Renewables: Which is more reliable?

The Philippine Department of Energy is currently fast-tracking 22 renewable energy projects to shore up the power supply. While solar and wind are growing, Dr. Alvin Caparanga, dean at Mapua University, notes that renewables are “intermittent.” Hydroelectric power, for instance, often fails during the summer dry season.

The debate creates a sharp contrast in strategy:

• The Nuclear Path: Focuses on high-density, stockpilable fuel (uranium) to prevent “automatic brownouts” during geopolitical crises.
• The Renewable Path: Focuses on community-run hydro and solar projects, which activists say have already helped off-grid communities survive energy spikes.

What are the safety risks of nuclear power in the Philippines?

Religious and environmental leaders argue that the social and environmental costs outweigh the economic gains. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan has warned that there is “no secure, long-term solution for radioactive waste” that remains deadly for millennia.

Aaron Pedrosa of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice urges the government to contextualize nuclear energy against the Philippines’ specific vulnerabilities to earthquakes and typhoons. In contrast, Dr. Arcilla argues that modern “Western designs” include containment structures that mitigate the risks seen in older disasters like Chernobyl.

How is the workforce preparing for a nuclear shift?

Public perception is shifting. A 2024 Energy Department survey found that over 70% of Filipinos trust nuclear power as a reliable electricity source. This shift is reflected in academia; Mapua University plans to offer a graduate program in nuclear science by August 2026, pending approval from the Commission on Higher Education.

Dr. Arcilla asserts that the country is already “more than ready” for this transition, noting that Filipino engineers currently working on nuclear plants abroad are willing to return home to implement these technologies.

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