‘Noy didn’t approve use of nuclear power’

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday belied claims that President Aquino had approved the use of nuclear power as contained in the Manila Declaration issued at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit last Thursday.

A portion of the declaration said, “In transitioning to a low-carbon economy, we will explore the contribution of biofuels, civil nuclear power as a base load power source, advanced coal technologies, liquefied natural gas, solar, wind and marine energy technologies. We appreciate efforts towards a diversified, flexible and integrated natural gas market in the APEC region.”

The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice had scored Aquino for it, saying nuclear energy is not renewable and the huge amount of waste created in using it entails problems of disposal and poses the threat of pollution to the environment.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda pointed out that “nowhere (in the declaration) does it oblige or commit economies to particular investments or construction for particular types of power plants.”

What it does, he said, “is highlight the need, in accordance with the overall theme of the summit, for increasing the percentage of environmentally-friendly and sustainable sources of energy.”

Lacierda added that each economy would have its own mix of energy sources, as well as laws and policies governing energy supply and use.

“What is the vital concept (in the declaration) is the formation of a task force on energy resiliency to make the grids of the respective economies more able to withstand disruptions from climate change and the increasing prosperity of the region,” he pointed out.