Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
Assignment 4: Bataan Nuclear Power Plant The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is located in Morong, Bataan and was constructed under the administration of President Ferdinand Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law period. Westinghouse was contracted to build the light water reactor, deign to produce 621 megawatts of electricity. This power plant was constructed under loan $600 million for two units but controversially it ballooned up to $2.3 billion. After The Marcos’ was thrown to Hawaii, the succeeding administration, President Cory Aquino commissioned a series of assessment studies to know if the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant should be opened. “First, and foremost, serious questions had been raised by responsible parties on whether the BNPP was safe as designed and constructed. Second, there had been persistent rumours and speculation that he (Marcos) had been bribed in connection with the award of the BNPP contracts.” (Saguisag 1991) For me, as a citizen of the Philippines, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant should not be reopened because the consequences is higher than those what we will benefit for the operation of this power plant. Although it has benefits there are more disadvantages we can get by simply opening it again. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was constructed during the times when President Marcos has his cronies and it can’t be helped to assume that the plant was corrupted of the proper fund. Experts says that the plant has its sister power plant in many other countries with the same function and specification but it is in the Philippines not all the materials are followed and the conditions in the Philippines is not the same with those of the other countries. We know history repeats itself, if the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was to reopen it may cause corruption with the state of the government system in the country. It will also add up to the growing debt of the Philippines and may be a burden to the progress of the Philippines. Another