The Republic of the Philippines is a constitutional democracy, with the President as head of state. The president and vice president are elected by the people for six-year terms. The national government has three equal branches that exercise a system of checks and balances: executive, legislative and judicial.

The executive branch consists of 26 cabinet, secretariat and equivalent ranks in specialized agencies, the national bureaucracy and the military, of which the president is Commander-In-Chief. The legislative branch of Congress is a two-chamber legislature. There are 24-senators in the Philippine Senate, while there are 287 Congressmen or House Representatives in the 15^th Congress. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, Regional Trial Courts and other special courts (i.e. Juvenile, Family or Sharing Courts)

Sources: eTravel Pilipinas, Department of Tourism Promotions Board

The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia, in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural crossroads, a place where Malays, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans and others have interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend known to the world as Filipino. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands, as the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles from its shores. The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude. The total land area is approximately 343,448.32 km². Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated; and less than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 km

Topographically, the Philippines are broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world. Most Filipinos live on or near the coast, where they easily supplement their diet from approximately 2,000 species of fish.

Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine trough, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters. The Philippines is a part of a Western Pacific arc system that is characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi, Taal Volcano, South of Manila and Mount Apo in Mindanao. All of the Philippines islands are prone to earthquakes. The Northern Luzon highlands or Cordillera Central rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and together with the Sierra Madre in the northern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), and some 800 species of flowering plants.

The country’s most extensive river systems are the Pulangi (Rio Grande), which flows into the Mindanao River, the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea, the Cagayan in Northern Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, southeast of Manila Bay, is the largest fresh water lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.

The climate of the Philippines is a tropical marine climate dominated by a rainy season, a dry season and a cool season that dominates on November to mid-February. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Manila and most of the lowland areas are hot and dusty from March to May. Even at this time, however, temperatures rarely rise above 37şC. Mean annual sea-level temperatures rarely fall below 27şC. Annual average rainfall ranges from as much as 5,000 mm in the mountainous east coast section of the country to less than 1,000 mm in some of the sheltered valleys. Monsoon rains although hard and drenching , are not normally associated with high winds and waves; however the Philippines sit astride the typhoon belt, and the country suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms from July through October. These are especially hazardous for Northern and Eastern Luzon, the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, with Manila getting devastated periodically as well.

The Philippines is the world’s 12^th most populous country, with a population of about 94 million people. Its national economy is the 45^th largest in the world, with an estimated 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) Purchasing Power Parity of US$351.4 billion. There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, an estimate of about 11% of the population.

More than 55% of the Philippine population is living on the northern island of Luzon, the National Capital Region (NCR) and part of Luzon, and is the most densely populated area of the country. More than 9.9 million (13.0%) people are living here. The total area of the National Capital area is 636 km² (0.2% of the country’s total land area) and its density is 15.617 people per km².

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

							Average Annual growth rate (%)
Year	1970	1980	1990	2000	2007	2010	2000 to 2010
Population (millions)	36.7	48.1	60.7	76.51	88.55	92.34	1.90
Population density (inhabitants/km2)			202	255		308	20.7
Urban Population as % of total				48	42.43	45.33
Area (1000 km2)	343.448

Latest available data

Source: National Statistics office, www@ncsb.gov.ph

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

							Average Annual growth rate (%)
	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2000- 2013
GDP (billions of current US$)	149.36	173.60	168.33	199.59	224.75	250.27	7.2
GDP (millions of constant 2000 US$)
GDP per capita (PPP*US$/capita)	1301.27	1332.83	1325.90	1403.31	1433.48	1501.83
GDP per capita (PPP*US$/capita)	3295.0	3375.03	3357.75	3553.50	3629.90	3802.99	5.4

*PPP Purchasing Power parity

Philippine GDP- Annual Growth Rate-Actual data Forecasts

Source: www.tradingseconomics.com

The National Statistical Coordination Board; www.ncsb.gov.ph

Despite the devastation brought about by the series of natural disasters that hit the country in the last quarter of 2013, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 driven by the Services Sector, particularly Trade and Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities, and by the accelerated performance of Manufacturing, paving the way for the annual GDP to post a growth of 7.2%.

On an annual basis, Gross National Income (GNI) grew by 7.5% in 2013 (the highest since the 8.5% growth posted in year 2003) from 6.5% the previous year with Net Primary Income (NPI) from Rest of the World (ROW), growing by 9.4% in 2013 from 4.8% in 2012.

For the fourth quarter, NPI from ROW grew by 15.1%, the highest since the first quarter of 2010, from 2.7% the previous year resulting to GNI’s growth of 7.8% in 2013 from the previous year’s 6.4%.

With the robust economic growth in 2013, per capita GDP accelerated to 5.4% from 5.0% in 2012. Likewise, per capita GNI grew in 2013 by 5.8% from 4.7% in the previous year.

Per capita Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE), on the other hand, decelerated to 3.9% in 2013 from 4.8% the previous year.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES (as of December 2012)

	Estimated available energy source
	Fossil Fuels			Nuclear	Renewables
	Solid	Liquid	Gas	Uranium	Hydro	Other Renewable
Total amount in specific units*	32 units @ 10,000 BTU/lb	277 MBbl @ 18,500 BTU/lb	3,808CF @49.5 MJ/kg	-	9,788 GWh	80 GWh
Total amount in Exajoule (EJ)	7,571	1.515	4.271	-	0.352	0.003

Source: Energy Statistics, Department of Energy

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS

						Average annual Growth rate (%)
Energy consumption**	1990	2000	2005	2007	2009	2000 - 2009
- Total, MTOE		39.9	38.5	38.9	39.6	0.4
Solids MMTC@ 10,000 BTU/lb		8.762	10.075	10.215	11.494	6.0
Liquids, MBbl		103.87	98.45	96.48	96.25	-1.1
Gases, MSCF		376	115988	130210	138029	52
Nuclear		-	-	-	-	-
Hydro, MWh		7,799	8,387	8,563	9,787	7.0
Other Renewables, MWh		11 317	9 921	10 274	10 403	0.07
Energy Production	1990	2000	2005	2007	2009	2000 - 2009
- Total, MTOE		19.3	21.2	22.0	23.5	2.4
Solids MMTC@ 10,000 BTU/lb		1,353	3.164	3.737	5,176	16
Liquids, MBbl		0.42	6.76	5.93	8.38	43
Gases, MSCF		376	115965	130211	138030	52
Nuclear		-	-	-	-	-
Hydro, MWh		7,799	8,387	8,563	9,787
Other Renewables, MWh		11 317	9 921	10 274	10 403	0.07
Net import (Import-Export)	1990	2000	2005	2007	2009	2000 - 2009
- Total, MTOE		19.9	17.3	16.9	16.2	-1.9

AAGR – Average Annual Growth Rate (%)

KTOE – Kiloton Oil equivalent, MTOE- milliton oil equivalent

MSCF – Million std. cubic ft.

MMT – Million metric ton

MBbl – Million barrels

BCF – Billion cubic ft.

Source: Energy Statistics, Department of Energy

As the country faces the realities of growing energy demand, tight energy supply, limited foreign investments and critical power development issues, the Department of Energy is set to release the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) highlighting the plans and programs of the energy sector to fuel support for the economic growth of the country for the period 2009-2030.

The plans and programs of PEP 2009-2030 will see to it that public policies of energy are at par with the changing needs of the energy sector.

As an overall guiding principle, the plan is based on three broad policy thrusts;

1. Ensuring energy security

2. Pursuing effective implementation of energy sector reforms and

3. Implementing social mobilization and cross-sector monitoring mechanisms.

Since the path to energy security cannot rely on one option only, the PEP has laid out essential and urged steps to support the policy thrusts of the energy sector. Below are the plans for the 20-year planning horizon.

Exploration/Development of Conventional Fuels

The country’s conventional energy fuels – oil, gas and coal – will continue to remain indispensable in meeting the country’s energy demand, even as the country pursues other alternative energy sources.

1.2.3.1. OIL AND GAS

1.2.3.2. COAL

1.2.3.3. RENEWABLE ENERGY

1.2.3.4. NUCLEAR

1.2.3.5. Promoting Responsible Use of Energy

1.2.3.6. Ensuring Developments in the Power and Electrification Sectors

1.2.3.7. USING ENERGY IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER (CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTION MEASURES)

The energy policy reflects the state’s commitments to pursue the energy independence agenda under the government five-point reform program package as shown in Figure 1. The first objective is anchored on the effective implementation of the following goals.

1. Accelerating exploration, development and utilization of indigenous energy resources.

2. Intensifying renewable energy resource development

3. Increasing the use of alternative fuels and

4. Enhancing energy efficiency and conservation.

The continuing reforms in the power sector, as well as the downstream oil and gas industries, will pave the way in realizing a globally competitive Philippine energy sector.

FIG 1. The Philippines’ Five-Point Reform Package

The Philippine Distribution Code establishes the basic rules, procedures, requirements and standards that govern the operation, maintenance and development of the electric distribution systems in the Philippine Grid Code and the market rules of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the total electric energy supply system in the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”, mandated the creation of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Section 43(b) of the Act provides that the ERC promulgates and enforces a National Grid Code and a distribution code which shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Performance Standards for TRANSCO O & M Concessionaire, Distributors and Suppliers, and (b) Financial Capability Standards for the Generating Companies, the TRANSCO, distributors and suppliers. The act also mandates the ERC to enforce compliance with the Grid Code, the Distribution Code, and the Market rules and to impose fines and penalties for any violation of their provisions.

The restructuring of the electric power industry will result in significant changes in distribution system operation and management. The act allows end-users belonging to the contestable market to obtain power from suppliers who are licensed by the ERC. Distributors must provide wheeling services to these end-users. Distributors must also procure energy from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and through bilateral contracts to serve the remainder of the customers in their franchise area.

The distribution code defines the technical aspects of the working relationship between the distributors and all users of the distribution system. Distributors must deliver electric energy to the users at acceptable levels of power quality and customer service performance.

Source: Energy Regulatory Commission (Philippines)

The Philippine power industry is divided into three major sectors: generation, transmission, and distribution.

Under the present power industry; structure, NPC generates its own electricity and buys electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Generation used to be a monopoly of the National Power Corporation (NPC) until the issuance of Executive Order No. 215, which opened the generation sector to private investors.

At present, a number of IPPs generate and sell electricity to NPC and other customers. NPC transmits electricity to distributors and large industrial customers via high voltage wires. NPC is also responsible for constructing the transmission grid highway interconnecting the main islands nationwide.

Distribution of electricity at its usable voltage to end-consumer is performed by investor-owned utilities and numerous electric cooperatives which sell to households as well as commercial and industrial enterprises located within their franchise areas at retail rates regulated by the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB). The Department of Energy (DOE) sets policy directions for the energy industry, while the National Electrification Administration (NEA) provides financial and technical assistance to electric cooperatives.

The major reforms are embodied in RA 9136, namely the restructuring of the electricity supply industry calls for the separation of the different components of the power sector namely; generation, transmission, distribution and supply.

On the other hand, the privatization of the National Power (NPC) involves the sale of the state-owned power firm’s generation and transmission assets (e.g. power plants and transmission facilities) to private investors. These two reforms are aimed at encouraging greater competition and at attracting more private sector investments in the power industry. A more competitive power industry will in turn result in lower power rates and a more efficient delivery of electricity supply to end-users.

Source: www.psalm.gov.ph

INSTALLED CAPACITY

Total installed capacity of the country increased by 6.0 percent in 2012 to 17,025 MW from the 2011 level of 16,162.0 MW.

Among the major island grids, Luzon registered the biggest increase in installed capacity at 5.4percent from 11,181.1 MW in 2011 to 12,527.8 MW in 2012. For the same periods, dependable capacity of the grid likewise increased by 4.8 percent from 10,824.4 MW to 11,348.7 MW. Said increase was attributed to the commercial operations of 651.6 MW coal power plant of GN Power, the 21.3 MW CIP II Diesel Power Plant, and the 19.8 MW Green Future and the 1.2 MW Pangea biomass power plants. The uprating of Binga Hydroelectric Power Plant from 100 MW to 125 MW also contributed to the increase

In the Visayas, installed capacity stood at 2,448.0 MW, an increase of only 2.3 percent from 2011 level of 2,393.8 MW. Meanwhile, the dependable capacity went up by 3.3 percent from 2,036.8 MW in 2011 to 2,103.3 MW in 2012.

In Mindanao, ensuring enough power supply remained a major challenge with the island grid’s ever growing demand and with not much additional capacity coming in. In 2012, installed capacity was recorded at 2,049.3 MW with minimal increase of 27 MW in capacity from previous year level of 2,022.0 MW. The additional capacity was due to the commercial operations MW King Energy (oil-based power plant), the 9.2 MW Cabulig Hydro Electric Power Plant, and the capacity expansion of Crystal Sugar (biomass) from 21 MW to 35.9 MW.

The government also came up with immediate and short-term measures to address the capacity gap in Mindanao. One of the solutions considered was the re-commissioning of the Iligan Diesel Power Plant which has a rated capacity of 100 MW.

The other immediate measures that the government considered to address the short term supply gap were:

• Interruptible Load Program (ILP). Designed to entice greater participation from the different distribution utilities (DUs) with embedded generating capacities or those large users within their franchise having backup generating capacities to utilize such capacities. Under this programme, the DUs with approved Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) power rates will operate their embedded generating capacities, while the large users running their backup generator sets will be paid by the DU within the franchise area. The reduction of the power load requirements of the DUs with embedded generator will be transferred to other DUs requiring additional supply.

• Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM). The establishment of an electricity market in Mindanao is seen as a mechanism to provide for a central dispatch and price for available capacities. Transaction in the IMEM will only be undertaken during supply shortfall, Power generating companies with non-contracted capacities as well as DUs and large users with available embedded generating capacities may nominate/bid to the IMEM their available capacities for dispatch at approved bid price.

It is expected that staring second half of 2014 onwards to 2015 and 2016, new capacities from committed power projects will be on commercial operations to provide the needed power supply requirements of the grid.

POWER GENERATION

Gross electricity generation in 2012 went up by 5.4 percent from previous year’s level of 69,175.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 72,922 GWh.

Source: Philippine Energy Plan 2012 -2030, Department of Energy www@doe.gov.ph

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

							Average annual growth rate (%)
	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2011-2012
Capacity of Electrical Plants (GWe)	15.94	15.68	15.61	16.36	16.16	17.03
- Thermal	3.62	3.35	3.19	3.19	2.99	3.07	2.7
- Hydro	3.29	3.29	3.29	3.40	3.49	3.52	0.86
- Nuclear	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
- Renewables, wind, solar,biomass	0.026	0.034	0.064	0.073	0.117	0.153	30.8
- Geothermal	1.96	1.96	1.95	1.97	1.78	1.85	3.9
- Coal	4.21	4.21	4.28	4.87	4.92	5.57	13.2
-Natural Gas	2.83	2.83	2.83	2.86	2.86	2.86	0
Electricity production (TWh)	15.94	15.68	15.61	16.36	16.16	17.03	5.4
- Thermal	59.61	60.82	61.93	67.74	69.18	72.92	5.4
- Hydro	5.14	4.87	5.38	7.10	3.40	4.25	25.0
- Nuclear	8.56	9.84	9.79	7.80	9.70	10.25	5.7
- Renewables, wind, solar, biomass	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
- Geothermal	0.059	0.063	0.079	0.090	0.205	0.259	0
- Coal	10.22	10.72	10.32	9.93	9.94	10.25	3.1
- Natural Gas	16.84	15.75	16.48	23.30	25.34	28.27	11.6
- Thermal	18.79	19.58	19.89	19.52	20.59	19.64	-4.6
Total Electricity consumption (TWh)	59.61	60.82	61.93	67.74	69.18	72.92	5.4

Note: Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

IPPs generation included in the utility

Source: Power Statistics, Department of Energy

Note: Generation data includes grid connected, embedded and off-grid generator.

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

	2005	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Energy consumption per capita (GJ/capita)	19.42	18.89	18.47
Electricity consumption per capita (kWh/capita)	583	587	589	593	641	647
Electricity production/Energy production (%)	22.33	22.67	22.05
Ratio of external dependency (%) (1)	44.9	43.5	40.08

Source: World Bank Indicators – Philippines – Energy Production & Use

In 1958, the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was established in accordance with Republic Act 2067, which was supported by then president Carlos P. Garcia.

In 1973, the Philippine economy was under a lot of pressure due to the oil crisis. With the intention of finding an alternative energy source, President Marcos decided in July of that year to construct a nuclear power plant (NPP). Workers stared building the power plant in 1976. Construction was put on hold in 1979 because of the Three Mile Island accident that happened in the United States of America (USA). The President of the Philippines issued Executive Order No.539 creating a Presidential Commission (Puno Commission) to conduct an inquiry on the safety of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The BNPP was completed in 1984. Its construction cost the government US$2.3 billion. With its Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR), BNPP was supposed to generate 621 MW of electric energy.

In 1986, the Marcos regime ended and Aquino was installed into presidency. In April of that same year, the Chernobyl disaster happened. This was one of the major reasons; Aquino did not push through with the operation of the BNPP.

The Philippine government tried to legally charge Westinghouse Electric Company for fraudulent schemes in the installment of the Westinghouse nuclear reactor. However, a USA court turned down the case.

The succeeding administration was strained to pay off the debt incurred for BNPP’s construction. They also tried to come up with ways in order to convert the NPP into a fossil fuel-based energy source, but such plans were deemed economically infeasible. In 2008, a team of surveyors led by Akira Omoto was commissioned to survey the BNPP for possible rehabilitation.

Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco filed House Bill No. 1291; “an act mandating an immediate validation process which satisfies internationally accepted nuclear power industry norms to determine the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant’s operability culminating in either the immediate rehabilitation, certification and commercial operation or the immediate permanent closure and salvage value recovery of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes “at the fifteenth (15th) Congress and has not been acted upon until its’ closing hours. This 16th Congress (2013-2016), no bill pertaining to the possible operation of the BNPP has been filed yet.

Source: WikiPilipinas Encyclopedia

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) is mandated to undertake research and development activities in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to institute regulations on the said uses and to carry out the enforcement of said regulations to protect the health and safety of radiation workers and the general public.

The DOE is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for preparing, integrating, coordinating, supervising and controlling all plans, programmes, projects and activities of the government relative to energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation.

The National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) is a state-owned company that serves as the largest provider and generator of electricity in the Philippines.

NPC started to set up the initial organization and studies for the nuclear project implementation.

FIG 2. Nuclear Organizational Chart

Source: www.pnri.gov.ph, www.doe.gov.ph, www.napocor.gov.ph

TABLE 7. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Reactor Unit	Type	Net Capacity [MW(e)]	Status	Operator	Reactor Supplier	Construction Date	First Criticality Date	First Grid Date	Commercial Date	Shutdown Date	UCF for 2013
BNPP-1	PWR	620	Cancelled Constr.	RPNPC	WH	1976-07-01				1986-05-01

Data source: IAEA - Power Reactor Information System

Source: PRIS database (www.iaea.org/pris), BNPP, National Power Corporation

The BNPP is under preservation since its completion in 1986 and a preservation team from the National Power Corporation has been working to preserve the plant up to present.

Due to the need for a potentially cheap and safe power generation facility, the Philippine government is considering the rehabilitation of BNPP by virtue of House Bill No. 1291, filed at the Fifteenth (15^th) Congress.

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) performed feasibility study on BNPP from February-April 2009.

Figure 3. Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

Since the creation of the DOE in 1992, only the PEP covering the planning period 1998-2035 incorporated nuclear as a long term energy supply option. The 1998 Plan forecast developed four scenarios to determine its sensitivity to different energy policy alternatives and impact of regional cooperation programmes. Under the said plan, a 600 MW nuclear plant will be operational by 2025. Additional nuclear plant units, 600 MW each, were planned to be completed in 2027, 2030 and 2034. Thus under the PEP 1998-2035, the total nuclear capacity was projected to reach 2,400 MW by the end of the planning period. At present, a bill for the re-commissioning of the BNPP is pending in the Philippine Congress, which when passed into law would hasten the nuclear programme for the Philippines. Likewise, operation of the said power plant would also trigger the construction of more units. When the BNPP re-commissioning bill is approved, feasibility for the plant’s re-commissioning will be undertaken and within a period of three to five years, BNPP may be put into operation.

FIG 4. Nuclear Infrastracture Development

The contract for the re-commissioning of BNPP may be through a government-to government arrangement. For the nuclear power cycle involving the BNPP, the recommendations from which the Philippine government would contract its re-commissioning project would be the prime consideration. However, for the future programmes, the Philippine strategy at the moment for the back end of the cycle would be for long term storage of spent fuel onsite, while awaiting identification of the site of the Philippines, National Radwaste Repository Center. A suitable site within the Philippines was already identified for this center.

TABLE 8. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Station/Project/Name	Type	Capacity	Expected Construction Start Year	Expected Commercial Year
BNPP	PWR	620 MW	-	-
NPP 1	PWR	600 MW	2015	2025
NPP 2	New Generation NPP	600 MW	2017	2027
NPP 3	New Generation NPP	600 MW	2020	2030
NPP 4	New Generation NPP	600 MW	2025	2035

Source: Philippine Energy Plan

FIG 5. Organizational Structure

The development of the country’s nuclear power programme is vested under a governmental ad-hoc committee described in Figure 5. By virtue of an inter-departmental order between DOE and DOST, this inter-agency Core Group on nuclear energy was created. Its prime objective is the development, management, setting up of policies and strategies which will involve nuclear power generation. Part of their mandate is the feasibility study for the possible re-operation of BNPP.

Not available.

The nuclear power project would be funded by an external financing organization in view of the huge capital cost necessary in putting up a new plant. Likewise, in case of the BNPP re-commissioning, external funding may also be required. However, the re-commissioning bill has made certain provisions in the electricity tariff as source of funds for BNPP.

New high voltage transmission lines as well, as well as switchyard upgrade is necessary for the re-commissioning of BNPP, as well as for new power plants.

In 1998, the government created the Nuclear Power Steering Committee to provide direction on the country’s nuclear power programme during this period. It identified numerous possible sites throughout the country as future sites for NPPs, as shown in Figure 6.

FIG 6. Other Candidate Sites for the Nuclear Power Plant

Except for the Bataan site, this would only need updating date for its Environmental Impact Assessment. All sites are located near the sea, hence the presence of abundant cooling water from the sea. Likewise, all identified sites are accessible by land transportation and within workable distance of transmission lines.

At present, the PNRI has the mandate on R&D in the field of nuclear sciences and technology. The country does not have any private institution that deals in this field. However, the pending bill in Congress on the reactivation of BNP has included provisions for the nuclear R&D. Also, upon embarking to nuclear power, the country’s science and technology industry will certainly add R&D on nuclear.

The country is not engaged in any advanced nuclear technology development.

On an international level, the PNRI acts as the national government agency which represents the country as a member state in the IAEA. PNRI has cooperative agreements in nuclear technology with other 16 members states of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for research, development and training related to nuclear sciences and technology for Asia and the Pacific. The PNRI partners with several organizations and entities like the RCA Regional Office (RCARO), Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA), Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and other organizations from Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, United States and other countries through bilateral agreements/institute to institute agreements.

The present nuclear regulatory authority is the PNRI, formerly the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission or PAEC. The PNRI’s basis for nuclear power plant regulation is the USNRC Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The licensing procedures involve three main processes; the Provisional Permit stage where a licensee is issued with Provisional Permit or limited Work Authority.

Next is the Construction Permit Stage where a construction permit is issued upon licensee’s satisfaction or compliance to various requirements of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR).

The third stage is the Operating license stage, where after completion of all conditions present; regulatory requirements, licensing of operators, etc., an Operating license is issued, where the licensee can then proceed with the fuel core loading and initiate reactor operation for criticality.