The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) is urging the government to immediately adopt the use of nuclear energy by reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) to support the country’s competitiveness globally.

However, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it has yet to ascertain the power plant’s viability to ensure safety the use of the 32-year-old power facility.

“The mothballed BNPP since 1984 can add over 600 megawatts (MW) of electric power to the Philippine grid when made operational… The chamber supports the operation of the nuclear power plant in Bataan to accelerate the economic progress of the country through industrialization,” the country’s first and oldest business group said.

According to CCPI, nuclear energy is the cheapest source of electricity since it is 79 percent cheaper than oil, 78 percent cheaper than gas and 23 percent cheaper than coal.

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