The operation of small modular reactors (SMR) that will utilize nuclear energy in off-grid areas should be given to cooperatives in order to maximize its benefits for the public, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
“Our appeal is that if nuclear is allowed to operate and its generation is to be sold to electric cooperatives, we hope that (power plants’) ownership will also be given to cooperatives and not to capitalists. If capitalists would also own them, the benefits that will be passed on to the public could be lessened,” said Carlo Arcilla, PNRI director, at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.
Arcilla said operations of SMR nuclear plants are very apt in off-grid setting, citing Occidental Mindoro and Palawan as good examples.
Arcilla welcomed the interest shown by American companies to put up SMR nuclear projects in the country.
Last week, the government announced that two companies from the US are interested in their SMR nuclear technology in the Philippines.
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual also said recently that there are two possible business models in attracting nuclear investments from the US to the Philippines.
Pascual said the Philippines can either seek supply of the nuclear reactors from NuScale Power Corp. and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) or get them to manufacture the reactors in the country.
NuScale Power Corp., a publicly traded US firm, announced plans to build small nuclear power plants worth up to $7.5 billion in the Philippines while USNC, a Seattle-based company, was looking at the Philippines as the first site of its nuclear energy facility in Southeast Asia. -Jed Macapagal
