Philippine nuclear plant privatization debate raises risk of recommissioning delays

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Philippine nuclear plant debate

Highlights

Representative Mark O. Cojuangco opposes privatization of the 620-megawatt Philippine Nuclear Power Plant, warning it could delay recommissioning and aggravate power shortages.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin announced the government is weighing a full sale or a partnership with retained state equity for the Bataan nuclear facility.
Cojuangco advocates full government ownership with competitive bidding for private contractors to operate and maintain the plant, emphasizing operator capability requirements.

Ownership options shape nuclear restart plans

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark O. Cojuangco opposes the proposed privatization of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant, arguing that the facility should remain fully under government ownership. He says selling the 620-megawatt plant in Bataan could delay recommissioning and extend the country’s struggle to meet rising power demand.

Cojuangco, a longtime advocate of nuclear energy, is calling on the government to present a concrete recommissioning plan for the plant, which has never operated. He says such a plan is needed to help secure nuclear power capacity and strengthen the national grid.

His comments come after Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the government is considering a possible sale of BNPP to a private developer. Another option under review is a partnership structure in which the government would retain an equity stake while working with a private energy company on the facility’s development.

Energy strategy and contractor model under discussion

Rather than an outright sale, Cojuangco proposes that the government keep full ownership of the plant while bidding out construction, operation and maintenance to private-sector companies. Under that approach, private contractors would need to first show they are capable of operating a nuclear power plant.

His position highlights a broader policy choice for the Philippines as it evaluates how nuclear power could support future electricity supply. The outcome of the ownership and operating model debate could influence how quickly the country moves on a project long viewed as a potential part of its energy security strategy.

Our earlier article on planned Philippine government bond reforms explained how the shift to a new pricing convention and prospective index inclusion could broaden the investor base and improve liquidity in peso debt markets. It also stressed that cheaper funding and stronger market participation do not automatically translate into real-economy investment without fiscal credibility and wider structural improvements, including infrastructure execution and lower production costs such as electricity prices.

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