Mission impossible: Embracing the nuclear 'explosion'

A nuclear “explosion” of sorts could be on the horizon for the Philippines – one which could ensure a sustainable, sufficient and clean source of electricity for future generations, or one which could put the country in a deep hole.

- RICHMOND MERCURIO

Early this month, an all-women government delegation from the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and Department of Science and Technology traveled thousands of miles to Canada not to fangirl over Ryan Gosling or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but to learn from its long history of using nuclear energy for peaceful means.

They were accompanied by all-male executives from the private sector who were sent by the country’s top tycoons not to watch the Toronto Raptors play or see ice hockey, but instead get a first-hand look at what nuclear technology has to offer and how it can be used in the Philippines.

Canada, after all, is not just known for maple syrup, but is in fact regarded as a nuclear technology leader given its strong reputation for exporting top-quality reactor systems and related infrastructure around the world.

With experience in nuclear infrastructure dating back to the 1950s, Canadian firms continue to demonstrate expertise across the full nuclear energy life cycle.

In the province of Ontario, for example, its Minister of Energy Todd Smith said nuclear power has played a huge role in their energy system, providing about 60 percent of their electricity daily.

“Because of nuclear, we were able to phase out coal a number of years back. So there’s no coal that’s a part of our system in generating electricity,” Smith said.

“We have some of the most effective nuclear facilities in the world that have operated safely for 40 years,” he noted.

Finding the appropriate model in response to the needs of the Philippines was what delegates from the country sought out to do.