Nuclear power bid slammed by environment, energy groups

MANILA, Philippines — Environment and energy groups called on President Rodrigo Duterte not to be “distracted” by nuclear energy from the path towards renewable energy that they described as clean, safe and abundant in the country.

“It’s really mind-boggling that the Philippine government does not focus on renewable energy despite all the studies they have actually done,” said Gerry Arances, executive director of Center for Energy, Ecology and Development.

Arances was responding to the government’s bid to tap into nuclear energy for its power supply needs, after Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed a memorandum of intent with Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatum Overseas during President Duterte’s official visit to Russia last week.

“We have vast potentials in the renewable energy, for wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal,” Arances said. “[This memorandum] is a diversion,” he added.

Malacañang meanwhile defended as a “justified necessity…in times of crisis” the procurement of a C 295 military transport aircraft and Gulfstream G280 business jet from the United States.