The future of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in the Philippines remains uncertain, with the Department of Energy (DoE) currently focused on its potential revival as a power plant while simultaneously considering a proposal to convert it into a data center.
Bataan Governor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III recently proposed turning the BNPP into a data center, citing its potential to attract significant investments. The DoE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director, Patrick T. Aquino, acknowledged the proposal, noting that data centers typically require substantial power, often around 100 megawatts or more.
Despite the data center proposal, the DoE’s primary goal remains the revival of the BNPP as a nuclear power plant. The Philippines and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a feasibility study to assess the plant’s viability.
Mr. Aquino emphasized that even if the feasibility study yields positive results, a thorough public consultation process will be necessary before any decision to revive the plant is made. The DoE is also conducting a public opinion survey to gauge public acceptance of nuclear power, aiming for at least 80% support from host communities.
A 2019 survey by the DoE and Social Weather Stations revealed that approximately 79% of respondents favored the BNPP’s revival and 65% were open to building a new nuclear power plant. Mr. Aquino indicated that recent public opinion on nuclear power remains relatively unchanged.