Nuclear energy in Negros is not an option, several groups in the province said yesterday in reaction to Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco's call Monday for the establishment of nuclear power plants in the country, including Negros Occidental, to ensure cheaper electricity and to save the country from power shortages that will cripple its economic growth.

Cojuangco issued the call at a press conference at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he supports the idea.

“Putting up a nuclear plant in Negros Island is like playing a game of Russian roulette or, to put it bluntly, it smacks of having a loaded gun placed in your head. And whoever is vouching or advocating for it should do it first,” Edwin Balajadia, Negros Environment Watch co-convenor and P hilippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros area manager, said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares also said he disagrees with the setting up of nuclear power plants in Negros Occidental and the rest of the country.

Nuclear power is very dangerous in countries like the Philippines because we are in the Pacific Ring of Fire where earthquakes are a common occurrence, he said.

“What we are advocating, though, is for renewable energy to be used, especially solar power as can be seen in House Bill 5405 or the One Million Solar Roofs Act. And of course support for our bill to repeal the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act),” Colmenares said.

Cojuangco on Monday said wind and solar power will be too expensive to be imposed on the Filipino people at P25 to 50 per kilowatt hour.

Today wholesale electric power is sold between P4.50 and P5 per kilowatt hour, while nuclear power will cost half the amount, Cojuangco said.

“The issue of having access to cheap and adequate electric power as a precursor in spurring economic development must not be done to the detriment of the risk and safety of Negrenses,” Balajadia said.

Despite the advances in nuclear science and technology, there is still no “100 percent safe ground” when it comes to controlling and producing nuclear power, and in disposing nuclear wastes as shown in the experience of more technologically-advanced countries, he said.

“We disagree with Cojuangco's assessment that what happened in Fukushima, Japan in March last year strengthened the case for the reactivation of the Bataan Nuclear Plant or for the building of nuclear plants here in Negros. Rather the Fukushima incident, coming only a few decades from the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear plant incidents only bolstered our belief that existing nuclear power plants remain a grave threat to human safety and security, and thus, must be mothballed and a banned,” he added.

It is easy to say that while the Fukushima plant managed to withstand the dire effects of the quake and its resultant tsunami, it is not automatic to presume that the Bataan plant or other nuclear plants that maybe built here in Negros or elsewhere in the Philippines could also withstand such disastrous effects, Balajadia said.

Instead of resorting to nuclear power as the way forward out of our current energy crisis, Cojuangco and Marañon must focus on renewable energy such as solar power, hydro, wind, and biomass, he added.

Meanwhile, Francisco Puey, Clean and Renewable Energy Movement for Ecological Integrity convenor, said the energy crisis will surely hit Negros if not addressed as soon as possible, but his group is opposing nuclear, coal and fossil fuel generated power.

“The DOE (Department of Energy) is not acting with full force on our problem. It's not acceptable why they can afford to ignore renewable energy and prefer the dirtiest non-eco friendly coal fired and fossil fuel (barges) power plants. This is extremely ridiculous not only locally but to the whole world as well,' he said.

“How can this Aquino government claim they are supporting renewable energy when they are totally ignoring it? We cannot afford to be complacent because what they are doing to Mindanao will surely happen to Negros,” Puey said.

He said the renewable energy solutions for Negros are power from sugar mill biomass, hydro electric power plants, and support for the lobby for the passage of House Bill 5405 for one million solar rooftops in 10 years.*CPG

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