RUNNING HEAD: Effects of Nuclear Power Plants Operation

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: SOLUTION OR DESTRUCTION?

A Term Paper Submitted By:

BILL M. VELORIA

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Major in Software Development

BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY (NGEC-0913)

February 2022

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 Effects of Nuclear Power Plants Operation
ABSTRACT

As the world continues to change rapidly, several world issues are surfacing.
Environmental crisis is a major problem the world is currently facing, and all leaders of every
nation are finding a solution to reduce it and completely solve this dilemma. In the Philippines,
building and operation of power plant is one of the solutions that the government is thinking of to
implement. There are several discussions regarding this issue, because of different public
perceptions. This paper tackles the amounts of disadvantages and some advantages that a
nuclear power plant may bring to a country. Nuclear power plants help to lower the cost of power
consumption, but several major issues are still aligned to it. Consequently, this paper highlights
the three major questions that are aligned in order to address the issue. The researcher wants to
give enlightenment to the readers about the internal and external factors that will be affected once
a nuclear power plant has been operated. The study pursues to further analyze the effectiveness
and consequences of using nuclear energy for reducing the energy crisis that the world is facing
as of now. There are other sources of energy aside from nuclear energy that are a big help to
solve energy crisis, and are believed to be more effective, less harmful, and low cost when it
comes to maintenance. Nuclear power plants are resource hunger, and brings harmful
substances that will not only affect the people, but the environment as well. Moreover, harmful
effects of nuclear power plants are being discussed in this paper, but also its effect to the economy
and a possible politics intervention.

INTRODUCTION

Electricity production from commercial nuclear power plants in the United States began in
1958. As of the end of December 2020, there were 94 commercial reactors operating in the United
States at 56 nuclear power plants in 28 states. The average lifespan of these reactors is about 39
years. New York's Nine Mile Point Unit 1, the oldest operating reactor, entered commercial
operation in December 1969. In 2016, Watts Bar Unit 2 was commissioned, the first reactor since
Watts Bar Unit 1 was commissioned in 1996. In November 2019, 23 commercial reactors in
various stages of decommissioning at 19 facilities were shut down, according to the US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission. US nuclear power generation peaked at about 102,000 MW in 2012,
with 104 nuclear reactors in operation. As of the end of 2020, there are 94 nuclear reactors in
operation with a combined power generation capacity of approximately 96,555 MW. From 2014
to 2018, the number of operating nuclear reactors decreased, but annual nuclear capacity and
generated power increased each year. This increase, coupled with high power utilization (or
power factor), helped nuclear power plants consistently maintain about 20% of total annual U.S.
generation from 1990 to 2019. Some reactors have shortened their duration to increase their
annual electricity production. The reactor is shut down for refueling. A serious environmental
problem associated with nuclear power is the generation of radioactive waste, such as scraps
from uranium power plants, spent (spent) reactor fuel, and other radioactive waste. Radioactive
waste is subject to special rules for handling, transport, storage and disposal to protect human
health and the environment.

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Plant closures in Brockdorf, Grond and Gundremmingen could increase pressure as
energy prices are already rising and tensions between Europe and major gas supplier Russia are
higher than ever. This action halves Germany's remaining nuclear capacity and cuts power
generation by about 4 gigawatts, the equivalent of 1,000 wind turbines. In protest against the
Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, former Chancellor Merkel started to phase out nuclear power
more than a decade ago. Germany plans to phase out nuclear power completely by the end of
2022, which will close the last three power plants in Neckarwestheim, Essenbach and Emsland.

The idea of using nuclear power to generate electricity is not new to the Philippines. The
623 MW Bataan nuclear power plant located in Luzon, completed in 1984, was shut down in 1986
due to political and security issues that arose during the post-Chernobyl regime change. Plans to
reopen the station have been repeatedly raised, including the energy crisis of the 1990s and the
sharp rise in oil prices in 2007. In July 2020, President Duterte gave a green light to civilian nuclear
power. (CNE) has issued Executive Order (EO) 116, which includes studies on the feasibility of
nuclear power as well as existing facilities such as the BNPP, and recommendations for phases
in using nuclear power for power generation.
EO 116 guides all policy decisions made by the President regarding the path to revitalizing the
nation's nuclear power. Energy Minister Alfonso G. Cuzi also assured the international forum that
as the Philippines launches its nuclear program, public concerns about the use of nuclear power
to achieve long-term energy security and sufficiency will be duly addressed. The energy minister
said the Philippine Energy Initiative (PEP) is already envisioning including nuclear power in the
energy mix by 2027 under the Clean Energy Scenario (CES).

Research Questions
1. If nuclear power plant is the best solution to energy crisis, what would be the possible crisis
that a country may face when it starts its operation?
2. Will nuclear power plants help the Philippines to provide a solution in narrowing the energy
crisis?
3. Is nuclear power plant a solution for energy crisis or just another road for corruption among
politicians?

The information in this paper “Nuclear Power Plant: Solution or Destruction,” will benefit the
Students: They will be informed about the on-going crisis and the deepest knowledge that they
need to know. This information will serve as an eye-opener in order for them to do their
responsibility on how to help solving the energy crisis. Faculty: This paper will give them
information about the crisis the world is facing today that will help them formulate what lessons
and activities they will give to their students in order to contribute a solution to it. Community: The
information inside this paper will help them to analyze their actions and decisions with regards to
this world’s crisis. This will help them to be more aware and understanding of what is currently
happening inside their community, and what they should do in order to prevent it from every worst

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possible events. This will also help them in identifying whether the politicians are taking advantage
of the crisis or is trying to resolve the crisis.

Objective of the Study

The sole purpose and objective of this paper are to introduce the readers with the risks
and benefits that a country may encounter when a nuclear power plant happens to operate inside
it. It is not new to everyone’s ears about what a nuclear power plant could do within the areas
near it, and even from other cities that are just kilometers away. This study aims to educate its
readers that a crisis may be taken advantage of politicians who are greedy enough to sacrifice its
nation just to satisfy their material needs.

METHODOLOGY

This paper employed the systematic literature review method of investigation. In this
method, the researcher addressed specific research questions; and then identified, appraised,
selected, and synthesized high-quality research evidence and arguments pertinent to those
questions. In principle, a systematic literature review means “research about research” and
applies the same process of reviewing literature that is normally done in primary research
papers.

In this investigation, the Google Scholar search engine was used as the research tool. Such
was utilized because the search engine contains repositories of quality and relevant educational
research. Four combinations of search terms were used in browsing for appropriate literature to
wit “NUCLEAR”, “ENERGY”, “POLITICS,” and “RESOURCE”. There were at
least [TEN] potentially relevant hits in all search results using at least three combinations of the
keywords chosen, and so, the dataset was filtered to only 10 manuscripts based on the
following criteria: 1) the articles must be written in English; 2) they must be studies and or
conceptual manuscripts, and 3) they must be papers published in the last 10 years locally or
internationally.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. If nuclear power plant is the best solution to energy crisis, what would be the possible
crisis that a country may face when it starts its operation?
1.1. Radioactive Waste
Uncontrolled nuclear reactions in nuclear reactors can lead to widespread air and water
pollution. The risk of this happening at nuclear power plants in the United States is low
because of the diverse and overlapping nuclear power plant safety barriers and systems, the
training and skills of reactor operators, testing and maintenance, and regulatory requirements.
Oversight by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A large area around the nuclear power
plant is restricted and protected by armed security groups. American nuclear reactors also
have hangars designed to withstand extreme weather and earthquakes. A serious
environmental problem associated with nuclear power is the generation of radioactive waste,
such as scraps from uranium power plants, spent (spent) reactor fuel, and other radioactive
waste. These substances can remain radioactive for thousands of years and can be harmful
to human health. Radioactive waste is classified into lowlevel waste and highlevel waste. The
radioactivity of these wastes can range from slightly above natural background levels, for
example in uranium plant debris, to much higher radioactivity from spent (spent) reactor fuel
and reactor parts. The time it takes for the radioactivity of a radioactive material to decrease
to half its original level is called the radioactive material's halflife. Radioactive wastes with
short half-lives are often temporarily stored prior to disposal to reduce potential exposure of
waste handling and transport operators. This storage system also reduces radiation levels in
landfills. In terms of volume, the largest waste associated with nuclear power plants has very
low levels of radioactivity. The tailings of uranium plants contain radioactive radium, which
decays to form the radioactive fuel radon. Most of the uranium plant residues are located near
the refinery or plant where they are delivered. The tailings of the uranium plant are covered
with an airtight fabric barrier with clay to keep radon from the air. Containment barriers are
covered with a layer of soil, rock or other material to prevent erosion of the containment barrier.
The different styles of low degree radioactive waste are the tools, shielding clothing,
wiping cloths, and different disposable objects that grow to be infected with small quantities of
radioactive dirt or debris at nuclear gasoline processing centers and nuclear energy plants.
These substances are problem to big rules for his or her handling, garage, and disposal so
they may now no longer are available touch with the out of doors environment.
High degree radioactive waste includes irradiated, or spent, nuclear reactor gasoline
(gasoline this is not beneficial for generating electricity). The spent reactor gasoline is in a
strong form, such as small gasoline pellets in lengthy metallic tubes known as rods. Spent
reactor gasoline assemblies are distinctly radioactive and, initially, ought to be saved in mainly
designed swimming pools of water. Water cools gasoline and acts as a radiation shield. Spent
reactor gasoline assemblies can also be stored in dry garage boxes, primarily for storage. A
growing number of reactor operators are now using unique air-cooled outdoor concrete or
metal boxes to store spent gasoline in dry garage centers. Currently, the United States no
longer has a permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste. When the reactor stops
working, it must be disposed of. Decommissioning entails effectively putting off from provider

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the reactor and all system that has grown to be radioactive and lowering radioactivity to a
degree that lets in different makes use of the property. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission has strict regulations governing nuclear energy plant decommissioning that
contain cleanup of radioactively infected energy plant structures and systems and putting off
the radioactive gasoline. (EIA, 2017).

1.2. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

At that time, 11 nuclear reactors were in operation in this area, and all 4 nuclear power
plants were automatically shut down when an earthquake occurred. Subsequent
investigations revealed no significant damage from the earthquake. The shutdown operating
units are Tepco's Fukushima Daiichi 1, 2, and 3, Tohoku's Fukushima Daini 1, 2, 3, 4, and
Japco's Onagawa and Tokai 1, 2 and 3, with a total capacity of 9,377 MW. .net. Units 4, 5 and
6 of Fukushima Unit 1 were not in operation at the time, but were damaged. Initially,
Fukushima 1313 was the main problem. In 5 days, 4 blocks became a problem. The reactor
proved to be resistant to earthquake shocks, but was vulnerable to tsunamis. Using electricity
from the grid or back-up generators, we were able to run the Residual Heat Removal (RHR)
cooling pumps on 8 out of 11 units, reaching "cooling down" in about 4 days, despite some
issues. The other three facilities suffered a power outage at 3:42 PM, about an hour after the
earthquake, when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was completely flooded by a 15-
meter-high tsunami. This made 12 of the site's 13 standby generators and the heat exchangers
that dump reactor waste heat and residual heat into the sea went out of operation. Three
reactors lost their ability to maintain proper reactor cooling and water circulation. The power
distribution unit was also turned off. After that, several weeks of work focused on restoring
heat removal from the reactor and resolving the problem of overheated spent fuel storage
tanks. This work was done by hundreds of Tepco employees and some contractors supported
by firefighters and military personnel. Some Tepco employees endangered themselves by
losing homes and families in the tsunami and initially living in makeshift housing amid great
hardship and hardship. The fortified regional emergency headquarters could not be used to
handle the situation due to radioactive contamination. At the Daiichi and Daini plants, three
Tepco employees died as a direct result of the earthquake and tsunami, but there were no
casualties from the nuclear accident. Among the hundreds of aftershocks that occurred on
April 7, there was a 7.1 earthquake with a magnitude closer to Fukushima than the March 11
earthquake, but no additional damage was done to the station. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake
on April 11 and the magnitude 6.3 earthquake on April 12 both occurred centered on
Fukushima Hamadori, but no further problems occurred. (World Nuclear Association, 2021).

1.3. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

As a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986,
huge amounts of various radioactive materials were released, exposing many residents of the
affected area to radiation. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in
April 1986 was the result of a combination of flaws in the design of the Soviet reactor and
serious errors of the plant's operators.b. This was a direct result of Cold War isolation and the
accompanying lack of a security culture. Immediately after the accident, grass and milk

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contaminated with radioactive iodine were found near Chernobyl. Due to insufficient Soviet
government restrictions on food and milk consumption, internal exposure, especially to the
thyroid gland, became a problem for nearby residents who were indirectly exposed to
radioactive fallout. People, especially babies and children, continued to consume
contaminated milk. As a result, by 2005, more than 6,000 cases of thyroid cancer were
surgically operated on children and adolescents under the age of 18 at the time of the 1986
accident. Although the risk of thyroid and thyroid cancer increased by 1.5-2 Gy, no statistically
significant increase in risk was observed below 200 mGy. A recent study in Belarus and
Ukraine also showed a linear dose-response relationship of less than 5 Gy with an excess
risk of 2.15 and 1.91 per Gy, respectively, at the equivalent dose to the thyroid gland. Has
confirmed. 100 mGy. Thyroid cancer data officially reported by the government after the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident from 1986 to 1991 during the former Soviet era was
hardly credible due to doubts about its accuracy, reproducibility, and even reliability (so-called
data quality problems). ) because of the lack of a systematic approach. Diagnosis and
standardization of data collection and analysis. However, data from Belarus, Ukraine and
Russia have consistently shown important data on radiation-related and surgically operated
thyroid cancers since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The accident destroyed the reactor at
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant-4, killing 30 workers and firefighters in three months, and
several more since. One died immediately and the second died soon after in the hospital from
injuries. Another person was reported to have died of coronary thrombosis. ARS (acute
radiation syndrome) was first diagnosed in 237 people who participated in cleaning, and then
confirmed in 134 people. Of these, 28 died of ARS within a few weeks of the accident.
Thereafter, 19 more workers died between 1987 and 2004, but their deaths may not
necessarily be related to radiation exposure. No outsiders were affected by acute radiation
exposure, although a significant but uncertain rate of thyroid cancer diagnosed after the
accident is likely due to radioactive iodine intake when children at the time were children. In
addition, large areas of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and other countries have been contaminated
to some extent. The
Chernobyl accident was the only accident and unique event in the history of the
commercial nuclear industry that resulted in radiation-related casualties. The design of the
reactor is unique, and in this respect the accident was of little importance to the rest of the
nuclear industry outside the Eastern Bloc at the time. However, this led to major changes in
the security culture and industrial cooperation, especially between East and West before the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Former President Gorbachev said the Chernobyl accident was
a more important factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union than perestroika. His Freedom
Reform Program (World Nuclear Association, 2021)

2. Will nuclear power plants help the Philippines to provide a solution in narrowing the
energy crisis?

2.1. ROSATOM
The Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), declared a sponsor of the
development of nuclear power facilities in the Philippines, is a Russian state-owned enterprise

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headquartered in Moscow. We pride ourselves on being the only company in the world to
provide services across the entire nuclear supply chain: the design, construction and operation
of nuclear power plants, mining, uranium conversion and enrichment, and nuclear fuel supply,
disposal, storage and transportation. fuel and waste). nuclear waste), more than 300
companies and organizations, and more than 250,000 employees. Rosatom is also proud to
have the world's only nuclear powered icebreaker fleet. Nuclear facilities provide 18.7% of
Russia's electricity. At least 36 nuclear reactors exist abroad at various stages of operation.
It is one of the world's leading companies in terms of uranium reserves and production.
However, clean operating performance is not something that Rosatom can be proud
of. Rosatom's nuclear legacy extends far beyond 2007, when Russian President Vladimir
Putin signed a law established by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Commonwealth of the
1940s, 1991. A detailed study published in 2014 by the international environmental group
Greenpeace found that “Countries that have fun or have contracts with Rosatom are joining
nuclear programs with a history of serious accidents. The most dramatic example is the 1986
Chernobyl accident in Ukraine.”
This study reported that Rosatom's state-supported organizational structure and
weak operating model created nuclear safety concerns, corruption, poor management of
nuclear waste, the risk of proliferation of nuclear bombs from the nuclear waste import trade,
conflicts of interest, and corporate culture issues. .. resulting from the integration of nuclear
weapons production and nuclear energy into one. The Greenpeace report concludes: “As a
business partner, Rosatom presents serious problems in all respects. The company's ambition
to expand nuclear power both in Russia and abroad from a financial, safety, political and
security point of view poses unnecessary and unacceptable risks to both the public and
potential customers.” In this respect, the partnership with Rosatom will bring more risks than
benefits to Filipinos. (G. Arances, 2020).

2.2. Bataan Nuclear Plant

The proposed restart of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) has raised
objections, including recognition of the BNPP's unsafe location on Mount Natib, a potentially
active volcano in the earthquake-prone area. This issue must be assessed through careful
seismology, paleoseismology, volcanology and engineering studies. BNPP is located at Cape
Napat on the southwestern slope of Mount Nativ, a stratovolcano of andesite or sedimentary
origin, only 30 km south of Mount Pinatubo. Little is known about Natib's evolution, but it
involved at least three explosive normal eruptions that formed a caldera 6 km in diameter and
a younger caldera 2 km in diameter. The pyroclastic flow defines the surface of the cone and
the available ages include ±27 ka 14C for sediments on the eastern slopes and relative dates
of 1118 ka for the estimated pyroclastic sediments in Subic Bay (1). It is unclear whether this
represents the most recent eruption. Quantifying volcanic risk would require a detailed
magma/ejection history that defines the frequency of magma recharge and eruptions that can
be analyzed for potential future eruption activity. In addition, Natib, Pinatubo, and the adjacent
Mariveles are part of the Luzon Arc and are involved in ongoing subduction along the Manila
Trench. Subduction earthquakes are common, but seismic risk is also associated with inland
structural structures. These include drilled faults found in the field, the basin faults visible in

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the reflection profile (1), and the Subic Bay fault zone depicted by magma studies (2). Various
linearities obtained from satellite imagery. It is considered an indicator of seismic threats as
well as earthquakes in the area. However, the focus is on maximum earthquake magnitude
rather than maximum ground acceleration (PGA), epicenter rather than focus, and fault/age
derivation rather than high production evidence of recent faults. A full quantitative seismic risk
assessment requires a paleo seismological study of the above structures and seismological
PGA analysis of all possible seismic scenarios to establish seismic activity and potential. (S.
Renato Dr., 2009).

2.3. Nuclear Power Plant is a Green Option

The Philippines plans to provide electricity to the homes of 105 million citizens by
2022. This ambitious plan, coupled with the growing demand for electricity in an environment
of economic growth, will call for forward-looking policies. The preferred way to meet demand
is to rekindle previously abandoned nuclear ambitions, some energy industry analysts say.
This is what President Rodrigo Duterte is trying to do, citing the benefits of nuclear power in
ensuring energy security.
“The use of nuclear power will be an effective way to meet [increasing] demand,
especially given the high power factor as a baseload resource and the fact that coal power,
on which the Philippines relies heavily, faces increasing environmental resistance.” , US
market data is being formed by Fitch Solutions in a recently published analysis. This isn't the
first time the Philippines has switched to nuclear power, where power shortages and blackouts
are rampant. By the mid-1980s, the construction of the 620MW Bataan nuclear power plant
was completed at a cost of $2.3 billion. However, after the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine, the
plant was shut down due to safety concerns. Currently, most of the country's energy needs
are met by burning coal, which is inexpensive but highly polluting as an energy source. Coal
accounts for more than half of the total electricity produced in the Philippines, with renewables
accounting for just over a fifth of electricity, and natural gas
accounting for a similar share. (S. Times, 2020).

3. Is nuclear power plant a solution for energy crisis or just another road for corruption
among politicians?
3.1. Strategic Rent Seeking Behavior
Reports advocate that the choice of the BNPP contractor, Westinghouse Electric, did
now no longer comply with the right bidding system. In fact, no bidding system passed off
previous to the signing of the settlement, although Westinghouse had a robust competitor
for the undertaking. This become already a clean violation of current legal guidelines at
that point. There had been predominant competing contractors for the BNPP -- General
Electric and Westinghouse, each of which had similar services. While General Electric
hired a "board and conventional" method which protected contextual assessment, nuclear
seminars, nuclear publicity journeys and a proper concept for the constructing of 600-mw
nuclear reactors for about US seven hundred million, Westinghouse hired a commercial
enterprise method that become not unusual place to the Philippines -- wielding current

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social or political ties to get beforehand of settlement negotiations (Beaver, 1994;
Dumaine, 1986).
According to to be had sources, their commercial enterprise method concerned hiring
Herminio Disini, golfing companion and crony of former president Marcos, as their income
agent (Bello, Harris & Zarsky, 1983). Disini`s spouse is likewise the primary cousin of
Imelda Marcos. Disini`s political connections gave Westinghouse a bonus over General
Electric. Westinghouse justified Disini's hiring as a method to reduce negotiation costs.
Hiring a nearby agent to help in settlement negotiation appears rational, as it may assist
lessen non-monetary costs (e.g. language barriers, teaching overseas negotiators on
Philippine way of life and negotiation processes) (Beaver, 1994).
The BNPP settlement become in the end signed in 1976, about years after
undertaking negotiations passed off. Originally, Westinghouse proposed to construct
nuclear reactors for a stated fee of US$500 million (US$2 hundred million much less than
GE's concept). However, by the point the settlement become signed, the fee escalated to
US$1.1 billion for a unmarried reactor (equal to a 140% growth in fee in comparison to
what has been formerly stated). Critics then expressed contempt over the strength plant
fee, which ballooned to extra than two times its unique value. Calculations of the National
Computer Center found out that the unmarried BNPP reactor is overpriced via way of
means of at the least US seventy five million as in comparison to comparable
Westinghouse flora being built at that point in Yugoslavia, South Korea and Taiwan
(Butterfield, 1978). Westinghouse, however, claimed that the growth in fee become as it
accounted for undertaking risks (e.g. volcanic and seismic activity), and set up centers to
residence the plant's workers (Beaver, 1994) As consistent with Sanderson's (2011)
framework, strategic rent-in search of as a proof of megaproject underperformance entails
aware tweaking of undertaking proposals so as to win undertaking bids. It appears,
however, that withinside the BNPP case, Westinghouse's achievement in triumphing the
BNPP settlement become fueled extra via way of means of a planned attempt to
strategically wield current political ties to serve non-public pastimes than a aware try to
misinform undertaking evaluators. This should offer a few aid to Kang's (2002)
announcement that political issues took priority over green coverage selections at some
point of the Marcos dictatorship, and this, in turn, exacerbated the monetary issues of the
country.

3.2. Misaligned and Underdeveloped Governance

Because there is no formal bidding process, it is possible to contract with less capable
private companies. The absence of competition can increase the risks associated with the
project. Because they are more likely to pursue political gain at the expense of project
quality. Moreover, Westinghouse is said to have subcontracted to two Disini companies
without a bid (Beaver, 1994). The absence of strict project rules and policies made Marcos
a boomerang when news of this anomaly broke out.
Marcos is said to have solved the problem by taking over Disini's company,
temporarily halting construction of the project, and making it appear that he was trying to
terminate his contract with Westinghouse (Beaver, 1994). At one time, the Soviet Union

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even volunteered to take over the project. However, Marcos did not take their proposal
seriously (The Wall Street Journal, 15 February 1978). A piecemeal agreement that
appears to lack the formality and rigor expected of such a large project may have
exacerbated the alleged (or actual) corruption associated with the project. Meanwhile,
international events that have shaped the world's perception of the safety of nuclear power
plants have also had a major impact.
In particular, the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 caused a global disaster after the
TMI reactor was destroyed due to a failure in the cooling system. As a result, it was
necessary to release the radioactive gas, but the amount was small enough to cause
health problems for people around the plant. The incident brought the world into question
the safety of nuclear power, and Marcos ordered a three-person committee to review the
safety of the BNPP. The committee reacted negatively, noting that the plant had serious
safety issues with its outdated design. Even Librado Ibe, who then headed the Atomic
Energy Commission (CAE), was initially unsure whether the BNPP construction should
continue. However, in April 1979 he changed this position and the AEC issued a permit
for the construction of the nuclear part of the station (Dumin, 1979). As conceptualized by
Sanderson (2011), inconsistent governance systems appear to refer to internal project
preparations that are not robust enough to adequately handle shocks and other
uncertainties. However, the BNPP case demonstrates that these uncoordinated and
underdeveloped governance systems can be linked to the behavior of selfish stakeholders
through rent seeking. The politicization of project construction created a whole new set of
problems when anomalies that caused public outrage were revealed.

3.3. Diverse Project Cultures and Rationalities

There have been two competing discourses on the BNPP case. Some supported the
construction because it was believed to greatly contribute to the economic growth of the
Philippines. The other was against safety and security concerns and construction linking
the BNPP to US influence on Philippine political and economic affairs (Bello, Harris &
Zarsky, 1983). Security concerns plagued BNPP construction. First, according to the
report, there were many geographic risks to the site.
However, perfunctory analysis would suggest Bataan`s proximity to Manila and other
large provinces as a contributing factor, since Luzon was the targeted priority consumer
of the electricity to be generated by the plant (Dumaine, 1986).
The IAEA initially recommended Bagac, Bataan, but Ebasco recommended a location
farther from the shore due to concerns about tidal waves and the sealevel. The location
agreed upon by the parties was at Napot Point in Morong, Bataan, which is a few
kilometers away from Bagac (ABSCBN News, 2009). Construction on Morong was halted
when concerns about the location re-emerged. It has since been found that the site is
adjacent to Mount Natib, an active volcano adjacent to mountain ranges such as the
famous Mount Pinatubo, which erupted in 1991 (Volentik, Connor, Connor & Bonadonna,
2009). . Although the region is not on the fault line (Senate Economic Planning Office,
2009), the risk in the Philippines cannot be completely ruled out. After all, in the case of
the Philippines, particularly the BNPP, the resolution of disputes over the availability of

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nuclear power remained elusive. Consultants seem to have different views on this matter.
The lack of consensus appears to be due to different and conflicting political interests of
stakeholders as well as leadership disputes.

3.4. Public Perception

The challenges in the development of the BNPP may have contributed to stronger
public perceptions against government, against debt (per se) and against the use of
nuclear energy. No one was prosecuted for the corruption behind BNPP. While the
Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) filed a case against Herminio
Disini and Ferdinand Marcos, political circumstances delayed any quick decisions on the
matter. Counter motions filed by Disini in the Supreme Court prior to his death, stalled
matters further.
However, in 2012, the Sandiganbayan finally ruled on the matter and held Disini
accountable for approximately USD50M and asked to reconvey such amount, which was
further affirmed by the Supreme Court. 9 But in 2014, when Disini died, this left the
reconveyance of this amount in uncertain terms. The corruption case behind BNPP was
one of many filed in the country to no avail, reflecting what some analysts consider to be
low conviction rates against graft and corruption (Quah, 2010). BNPP has also contributed
to the impression that debt is damaging to the economy. While proper debt management
is beneficial for capital gains, the amount of debt due in part to this project generated
considerable public pessimism. As the BNPP accounts for the largest single debt in the
country’s history, it created an impression that debt can be a tool for the few to gain money
at the great expense of the many.
Good governance and freedom-from-debt advocates have in fact used the BNPP
as part of their rallying cry against corruption and high debt payments. For instance, the
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and IBON Foundation Inc. cited the BNPP as a case
in point in actively campaigning for the cancellation of illegitimate debts (FDC, 2007, 2013;
IBON, 2004, 2005). Illegitimate debt, by definition, includes odious and illegal debt, as
well as debt incurred from losing a war, from irresponsible lending by creditors and from
loans made for ideological or political reasons (Jubilee USA Network, 2003).
Supporters of this campaign argued that creditors are to be held liable for debts
granted to dictatorships or oppressive regimes, such as what has transpired during the
Marcos dictatorship. This perspective is echoed by the former Chief Justice Reynato Puno
in his speech during the 10th National Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
in which he said, "foreign creditors knew or had no reason not to know that the loans will
be used for used for some illegitimate purpose like supporting notoriously brazen
kleptocratic military regimes. These creditors need not be paid because they are parties
to the crime (IBON, 2005:2)." Simply put, creditors who irresponsibly lent money to fund
questionable or what some analysts call "fraudulent" megaproject deals (AFRODAD,
2007; IBON, 2005), are deemed partially responsible for megaproject mishaps as they
helped propel the construction of these white elephants (Hanlon, 2006).

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CONCLUSION
Nuclear Power Plants serve as a source of energy in other countries which helped its
people to consume power without being afraid of its cost. Building nuclear power plants are always
a hot topic, because it is famous for its hazardous components, and it might be a huge threat to
people who lives some kilometers away from it. The idea of nuclear power plants always takes us
to the question: is it a solution? Or just a new source of destruction of livelihood? Until now, the
discussion whether to open the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is still on going, because of different
public perceptions. many believed that re-opening this power plant will help the people to consume
energy power without the fear that they may not be able to pay their bills. For them, a new source
of energy like nuclear energy will help the country to solve the energy crisis that is currently
happening. Filipinos often experience “blackouts” due to shortage in supply of energy. This
frustrates the people, especially now that we are in a pandemic, because almost the majority uses
the internet to attend to their everyday obligations. Although some people are in favor to re-open
this power plant, there are groups who openly express their disapproval of this thought. Nuclear
power plants may help to reduce the energy crisis, but it will put the people’s lives at stake. One
wrong move and big disaster may put everyone to a big dilemma. Just like in Japan, if a fortuitous
event took place and hit the power plant, we will not just face the casualty of the event, but the
casualty that the nuclear power plant may bring as well. Unemployment is one of the economic
issues nowadays, and building a power plant may reduce the number of unemployed people.
Since this needs a worker in order to maintain and observe its operation, this will be an opportunity
to provide a job for them. However, one of the biggest dilemmas that may arise is corruption.
Philippines is known to have leaders that are accused, and even convicted due to their
involvement in several corruption anomalies. Former President Marcos is known for his records
which involves him to biggest corruption events in the Philippines. In his reign, BNPP was built.
The process of building this power plant is not only a hot topic due to its environmental and
livelihood hazards, but also because of corruption behind it. Re-opening this power plant today,
and building another power plant may be a way to another corruption anomalies. Investors from
different country will definitely put a large sum of money, and government officials may not put
those money into building and maintaining a nuclear power plant. For now, Philippines should
invest more on other energy resources such as wind, solar, hydrothermal energy, because nuclear
energy is not something that we should take lightly and several talks and studies must be
conducted first before building and operating one here in the Philippines.

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