As part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of energy signed with the Philippine Department of Energy (PDOE) Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is to undertake a feasibility study on the potential rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). The MOU was one of seven signed during the state visit to the Philippines of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

“The signing of this MOU builds on the strong foundation of energy cooperation between the two countries, said Philippines Energy Secretary Raphael PM Lotilla . “For the Philippines, it is a continuation of our efforts to enhance energy security, as outlined in the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP).” Under the PEP, Manila plans to produce 1,200 MWe using nuclear power by 2032, which would increase to 2,400 MWe by 2040 and to 4,800 MWe by 2050.

The MOU is designed to generate critical information to guide the Philippine government’s decision-making process, not only on the BNPP but also in exploring other nuclear technologies and potential alternative sites for nuclear energy development, PDOE said. “This study will play a key role in assessing the feasibility, safety, and sustainability of various nuclear energy options, helping the government make well-informed choices that align with the country’s long-term energy goals.”

PDOE noted that Korea has a long-standing familiarity with BNPP through studies conducted in 2008 and 2017 by Team Korea comprising KHNP, Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) KPS and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.

The Philippines decided to build the two-unit BNPP in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. Construction of unit 1, a 621 MWe Westinghouse pressurised water reactor began in 1976 and it was completed in 1984. However, it was almost immediately mothballed in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster after questions were raised about its excessive cost and poor safety, including its location near a major fault and the Pinatubo volcano.

The Philippines spent $2.3bn on BNPP during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. The plant was never fuelled or commissioned following allegations of financial irregularities and concerns about safety. Since 2009 it has functioned as a tourist attraction, helping defray the cost of maintaining it. There have been several proposals over the years to either start up the plant or convert it to a gas-fired plant.

The effort to revive nuclear power in the Philippines was begun by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was in power from 2016 to 2022 and whose relations with the US were somewhat strained. However, in 2022, Washington and Manila signed a MOU on civil nuclear cooperation which also included reviving BNPP. At that time, Carlo Arcilla, director of the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) told the Philippines Star that five years was a workable, “optimistic” timeframe for the full rehabilitation and commissioning of the BNPP. He suggested then that Kepco and KHNP undertake a feasibility study on BNPP’s rehabilitation and determine the mode of contract for the project.

PDOE in its statement on the MOU with KHNP said all costs associated with the feasibility study would be fully borne by KHNP and noted that the Philippine government was under no legal obligation to proceed with rehabilitation of the plant or to engage KHNP based on the study’s findings. “The study is exploratory in nature, and any subsequent actions will be subject to further evaluation and decision by the government,” it said.

The study is set to commence in January 2025 and will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will assess the current condition of the BNPP and its components and the second phase will evaluate whether the plant can be refurbished using the most optimal model.

“Should the findings from the first phase determine that proceeding to the next phase is not advisable, KHNP may recommend alternative options, including the construction of a conventional plant or the development of a small modular reactor (SMR),” PDOE said. “These alternatives will be presented as viable paths forward, offering flexibility in advancing the country’s nuclear energy agenda, based on the results of the initial phase.”

Central to the Philippines nuclear energy ambitions is the Nuclear Energy Programme – Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), led by the PDOE, which takes a whole-of-government approach to integrating nuclear power into the country’s energy mix. The NEP-IAC has established six sub-committees to address the 19 infrastructure issues outlined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its Milestones Approach.

The Philippines unveiled its Nuclear Energy Roadmap (NEP) at the 68th IAEA General Conference in Vienna in September. During the high-level General Debate, DOE Undersecretary Sharon Garin emphasised the Philippines commitment to establishing an independent nuclear regulatory body to oversee development of the NEP.

Despite PDOE’s caveat that it will be under no obligation to procede with the BNPP rehabilitation or further engage KHNP, South Korea is clearly optimistic about future prospects for co-operation with the Philippines, according to South Korean media reports. The feasibility study, which is expected to take six months, should “ help KHNP and other nuclear energy-related companies gain a competitive advantage for future participation in the construction once it resumes,” Korean Times said. “Additionally, it could open up opportunities to expand nuclear energy projects to other Southeast Asian nations.

At a joint press briefing with President Marcos after signing the MOU, President Yoon emphasised that, following South Korea’s success in securing a nuclear power contract in the United Arab Emirates in 2009, it had been chosen as the preferred bidder for a new project in the Czech Republic this year, “positioning it as an optimal partner for nuclear cooperation with the Philippines”.

“KHNP will conduct a feasibility study on the economic viability, safety and other factors regarding the Bataan nuclear power plant, which is expected to pave the way for further collaboration in the nuclear energy sector,” Park Chun-seop, a senior presidential aide on economic affairs, told reporters. He pointed out that the Bataan plant is the same design as South Korea’s Kori-2 reactor. “With over 40 years of experience operating Kori-2, KHNP has the expertise and knowledge necessary to carry out a comprehensive feasibility study for the Bataan plant,” Park said.

Researched and written by Judith Perera