Bataan Nuclear Power Plant must be junked, says vice governor

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Bataan Vice Governor Maria Cristina Garcia has called for the decommissioning of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong town, stating that the 40-year-old facility is an outdated risk that should not be part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s nuclear energy push. "We have been struggling with the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant for the past 40 years. It's like an old car that should be junked," Garcia said in a statement. The BNPP, built in the early 1980s, has never been operated. Garcia emphasized that considering the significant costs and potential risks associated with its reactivation, decommissioning is the most practical and responsible path forward. President Marcos Jr. has expressed interest in nuclear energy as part of the country's energy mix to meet rising demand and transition towards cleaner sources. However, concerns about the safety and viability of the BNPP, given its long period of disuse, have been a persistent issue raised by local communities and environmental advocates. Garcia's statement highlights local opposition and underscores the ongoing debate about the future of nuclear power in the Philippines, particularly concerning the safety and economic feasibility of utilizing aging infrastructure.