Here and There
The puzzling ‘Energy Crisis’
By Gerry Garcia
THIS energy crisis thing presently hounding us has left many among us scratching our heads over the question of which of the crises thing (or problem) is being shown us — the head or tail? In short, we are puzzled, starkly bewildered.
From energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, we get a formally acceptable idea. The energy crisis, he tells us, is an impending power shortage in the coming years. The people are suffering rotating brownouts. We should aim for 100-percent electrification. He says one option is to revisit the nuclear power option, meaning the Department of Energy which he heads is planning to get a consultant, preferably a local one, to do a feasibility study on the proposed rehabilitation of the multi-billion 600-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
Oppositionists to Reyes’ proposal say the proposal is patently ridiculous and dangerous. “The BNPP was proven to be an anomalous contract entered into by the Marcos dictatorship. We’ve not even finished paying this onerous debt. Now the government suggests we borrow $800-million more so we can operate the plant. This debt again will be paid for by Juan dela Cruz”.
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From the oppositionists, we get the inkling that what they understand to be the energy crisis is the power rates which are going higher. That’s why they say the issue is to resolve the energy crisis by reducing power rates. This can be done even without opera-ting the BNPP. The starting point would be the removal of VAT on power and oil. This is the most direct way of helping consumers to cope with the rising power rates.
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On the other hand, some of us are inclined to believe we’re now in a nuclear age and we tend to believe Energy Secretary Reyes has a point when he proposed doing a feasibility study to determine the wisdom of rehabilitating the BNPP especially if the feasibility study is launched by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the USA.
After all there are already industrialized countries in the West using nuclear Power Plants for energy source.
(Readers may reach columnist at sundaypunch2@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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