The operations of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) will lower electricity rates, create jobs and alleviate poverty, according to a business chamber who sought the use of nuclear energy.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) said the BNPP can add over 600 megawatts of electric power to the Philippine grid.
The CCPI said it supports the operation of the nuclear power plant to accelerate the economic progress of the Philippines through industrialization.
Nuclear energy is the cheapest source of electric power generation since it is 79 percent cheaper than oil, 78 percent cheaper than gas and 23 percent cheaper than coal, the CCPI said.
At least 31 countries currently operate nuclear power plants while 65 nuclear power plants are currently being constructed, according to CCPI.
The CCPI said similar nuclear plants are currently operating safely in Korea, Slovenia and Brazil for the past 30 years.
