NUCLEAR POWER. Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco bids for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Labrador town in the province. Under the plan, an initial 1,000 megawatts unit worth about PHP225 billion will be constructed in a 120-hectare area and could be operational in seven to eight years. (Photo courtesy of Congressman Mark Cojuangco's Facebook page)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco is pushing for the construction of a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Labrador town, Pangasinan province to provide cheaper electricity and create jobs for residents.
Under the proposal, the initial PHP225-billion nuclear power plant will be built within a 120-hectare area in a still unspecified location, and will be operational within seven to eight years.
The plan is to put up four power plants, with each additional units to be located in a 40-hectare area.
Cojuangco, the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy chairperson, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that the municipality is an ideal location for a nuclear power plant because it has vast sea and mountainous areas.
“Since it has the mountain, the plant could be constructed some 10 to 15 meters above sea level so it could be tsunami-proof and the sea (is ideal) for its cooling power,” he said.
Once the nuclear power plant is constructed and operational, Labrador will have the cheapest electricity in the country and this would bring in more investors that will benefit even the neighboring towns, he said.
Cojuangco explained that “at least 65 percent of the registered voters have written to the government, inviting a nuclear power plant investor but in return they will get free electricity, with their 2021 bill as reference.”
The letters, he said, were submitted to the municipal government.
He said the Municipal Board needs to approve an ordinance allowing the construction of the power plant and send a copy of which to the Provincial Board to get further approval for the construction of the facility.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III, in an interview, said the provincial government supports measures to address energy supply issues in the country and affirmed that production cost of nuclear energy is cheaper.
“Basta pumasa at may rekomendasyon ng mga dalubhasa gaya ng mga physicists, (at) geologists, at meron rekomendasyon mula sa lugar kung saan itatayo ay susuporta tayo (We will support it, provided that it has received recommendations from experts such as physicists and geologists, and has recommendation from officials of the area where it will be constructed),” he added. (PNA)
