FORMER Pangasinan representative Mark Cojuangco warned the country of a possible energy supply crisis if the government could not find other alternative sources.
The former lawmaker added the country's demand for electricity is expected to grow and can be addressed once the dormant Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is opened.
Cojuangco over the weekend during an inter-school Nuclear Power Forum at the University of the Cordilleras said the growing impact of a power crisis been here since 2007.
“There is a need to revive the dormant Bataan Nuclear Power Plant,” he added.
The forum is part of a nationwide information campaign to advocate the revival of BNPP, which is touted to be a safe energy source, and built of 0.4g peak acceleration structured to withstand the greatest tremor projected to hit Luzon.
Cojuangco said the BNPP is a source of alternative energy and is a technology from natural reactors reported to be safe, clean and a cheap source compared to other renewable energy source used by the USA and Switzerland.
During the forum, Cojuangco added the country's demand for electricity is expected to grow an average of five percent per year until 2030 or around 126 tera-watt hours from the 2015 level of 82 TWh.
Cojuangco said the government is spending P50 million to maintain the dormant plant. In 2007, the $2.3-billion debt of BNPP since its construction under former president Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship has been fully paid but remains unused.
During the forum, UC College of Engineering Dean David Angiwan echoed the fear of a looming energy crisis and backed moves to find alternative energy sources with over 100 students from engineering departments of Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines-Baguio, University of Baguio, Benguet State University.