PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte signed an executive order (EO) authorizing a feasibility study to evaluate the introduction of nuclear energy into the energy mix.
The Palace on Wednesday released Executive Order No. 116 which ordered the adoption of a national position on nuclear energy and establishing a committee to study the possibility of nuclear energy adoption.
“The government shall conduct a study for the adoption of a national position on a Nuclear Energy Program (NEP) in accordance with pertinent IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) guidelines and relevant laws, rules, and regulations,” Mr. Duterte said in the EO, signed on July 24.
The Department of Energy (DoE), assisted by the IAEA, has started the nuclear power issue via energy planning studies.
The EO constitutes the Nuclear Energy program Inter-Agency Committee to be chaired by the DoE. The committee is tasked to conduct a study to evaluate and assess the adoption of nuclear energy and consider the economic, security, and environmental implications.
Mr. Duterte said, “(T)he experience of a number of countries has shown that nuclear power can be a reliable, cost-competitive and environment friendly energy source.” — Gillian M. Cortez
