▲ Park Chun-seop, a senior presidential aide on economic affairs, talks about President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the Philippines during a press briefing in Manila on Oct. 6, 2024. (Yonhap)

KHNP-Philippines

KHNP to conduct feasibility study on mothballed nuclear power plant in Philippines

By Kim Eun-jung

MANILA, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government Monday for a feasibility study on the long-dormant Bataan nuclear power plant to inspect whether it is safe for use.

The signing between South Korea's state-run power operator and the Philippine Department of Energy followed President Yoon Suk Yeol's summit with his Filipino counterpart, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in Manila.

The power plant on the Bataan peninsula, about 100 kilometers west of Manila, was completed in 1986 but was never activated due to safety concerns in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that occurred the same year.

"KHNP will conduct a feasibility study on the economic viability, safety and other factors regarding the Bataan nuclear power plant, which is expected to pave the way for further collaboration in the nuclear energy sector," Park Chun-seop, a senior presidential aide on economic affairs, told reporters.

The Bataan plant is equipped with a light water reactor from U.S. energy firm Westinghouse with a capacity of 621 megawatts, the same design as South Korea's Kori-2 reactor.

"With over 40 years of experience operating Kori-2, KHNP has the expertise and knowledge necessary to carry out a comprehensive feasibility study for the Bataan plant," Park said.

The Manila government is exploring options to include nuclear power in the country's energy mix to meet growing power demand, including the potential operation of the Bataan plant.

South Korea is accelerating a drive to export its nuclear reactors under Yoon's push to expand the use of nuclear power after reversing former President Moon Jae-in's nuclear phase-out policy since taking office in 2022.

In July, KHNP was selected as a preferred bidder to build two nuclear power units in the Czech Republic, a deal estimated at around 24 trillion won (US$18 billion).

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