By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he wants a better understanding of nuclear power plant after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. met with executives of a top nuclear energy firm during his state visit to the United States last week.

NuScale Power Corporation, an American firm known for developing small modular reactors, is planning to invest an estimated $6.5 to $7.5 billion to provide 430 megawatts of power to the country.

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute also commented that such a technology would be perfect for islands, particularly those not connected to the power grid.

Nuclear power is also seen as a cheaper alternative for power with an estimated P1.50 to P2 per kilowatt hour (kWh) compared to other current available sources such as coal at P5.50 per kWh, liquefied natural gas at P9 per kWh, and diesel at P21 per kWh.

According to Lacson, everyone wants to know if nuclear power is safe.

He also wants a better explanation from experts before he can make a decision whether he would support or go against any proposal that could surface in the future for Negros to also host such a technology.

However, nuclear power is slowly gaining popularity among the public. Some experts have expressed their opposition to the proposal, pointing out that the technology is still too risky.

House Bill 7049, or the proposed Philippine National Nuclear Energy Act, has already passed the first reading of the House of Representatives./DGB, WDJ