The Philippines has sought the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its ongoing review and assessment of the possible rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which has been dormant for more than two decades.
In a meeting last week in Manila with visiting IAEA Director Yukiya Amano, who was in the country on Dec. 8 to 11, the Philippine government officials said the IAEA can assist the Philippines “if and when the government decides to include nuclear power generation in its present energy mix,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.
“In addition to the science and technology area, the Philippines benefits from the activities undertaken by the IAEA under its safety and security pillar, particularly in the review and assessment of the possible rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant,” the statement said.
While in the country, Amano toured the mothballed plant, a 2.3- billion-U.S. dollar facility constructed during the Marcos regime that was nearly completed in 1984 but never fueled.
It was constructed in response to the 1973 oil crisis, as the Middle East oil embargo had put a heavy strain on the Philippine economy, and Marcos believed nuclear power to be the solution to meeting the country’s energy demands and decreasing dependence on imported oil.
When Marcos was overthrown by a people power revolt in 1986, the succeeding administration of President Corazon Aquino decided not to operate the plant due to strong opposition from Bataan residents and Philippine citizens.
