TAGUIG CITY - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today cited the potential contribution of nuclear energy and hydrogen in efforts to accelerated the attainment of a secure and sustainable energy future for the Philippines. 

ON NUCLEAR

Secretary Cusi said, “it is high time that the feasibility of safely utilizing nuclear energy to meet our energy requirements be considered”. He believes that had the country taken the opportunity to seize the opportunity of using this power resource decades ago, the Philippines’ present socio-economic landscape might have been extremely different – according to the Secretary, we might be at par with our more developed regional neighbors like South Korea, which took advantage of developing its own national nuclear energy program despite the economic challenges it was facing at that time. 

On 18 December 2020, the DOE-chaired Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) submitted to the Office of the President its initial report endorsing the adoption of a National Position for a Nuclear Energy Program. While waiting for the decision, the NEP-IAC and the DOE-Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) continues to conduct activities, studies, and research programs that seek to address the 19 infrastructure issues on nuclear power development program in the country, in compliance with the policy guidelines set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization within the United Nations framework. 

• The DOE and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Development of Instructional/Education Materials on Nuclear Science and Technology for Secondary Students and Science Teachers. On 6 May 2021, the project on Education Resource Materials on Nuclear Science and Technology was virtually launched. This project aims to increase the knowledge and understanding of students, science educators, and the public on the basic facts and benefits of nuclear science and technology through the dissemination of educational resource/instructional materials and modules. 

• In support of developing stakeholders’ involvement, the DOE-NEPIO conducted a Virtual Symposium in Nuclear Energy with La Concepcion College for senior high school students on 16 June 2021. Its primary objective is to help inform students of the benefits of nuclear energy in reference to the possibility of introducing nuclear science related courses in the tertiary education level.

• The DOE-NEPIO is also collaborating with Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Inc., (JAIF) – International Cooperation Center (JICC) for the conduct of several training courses. These training courses were attended by the Technical Working Group (TWG) members of the DOE-NEPIO, and representatives from the DOST-PNRI, National Power Corporation (NPC), National Transmission Company (TransCo), DOST- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and DENR- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).  

Furthermore, the DOE-NEPIO and NEP-IAC have also made representation to the United States Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program, a five-part webinar series for selected ASEAN member states scheduled from May-September 2021.

• There is likewise a MOA among the DOE, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), and Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), which focuses on the development of a Comprehensive Strategic Communication (StratCom) Plan on Nuclear Energy.  The StratCom Plan is envisioned to contain broad-based strategies designed to address stakeholders’ negative perception on the use of nuclear energy for power generation.    

ON HYDROGEN

With hydrogen being viewed as “the fuel of the future”, Secretary Cusi has been keen on looking into its potential applications in the Philippine setting. After creating the Hydrogen and Fusion Energy Committee (HFEC), the DOE has, thus far, entered into two Memoranda of Understanding on research and development activities. The first MOU was with Australian firm Star Hero, to evaluate the conversion of coal-fired power plants to hydrogen sourced from renewable energy (RE) feedstock, while the other was with Japan’s Hydrogen Technology, Inc. to assess hydrogen utilization for power generation.

Another promising development may be underway, this time with France, a country that has been strongly pushing on RE for hydrogen production. During a joint meeting with the DOE and the Department of Trade and Industry, a Paris-based firm, through the Philippines-France Joint Economic Commission noting the potential collaboration.

"Amid the challenges to hurdle, the DOE continues to work round the clock in ensuring the country's energy security. I am confident that by doing regular reviews of our energy policies, will further strengthen and empower both the public and private sectors to promote all sources of energy for the generations to come," Secretary Cusi concluded.

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