A lawmaker advocating nuclear energy said the Philippines may need to significantly expand its power capacity, including tapping nuclear energy, as electricity demand is projected to surge in the coming decades.
Speaking on DZRH’s “Special on Saturday (SOS),” Chairman of the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy and Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco said the country’s total installed generating capacity currently stands at about 22,000 megawatts, covering all sources such as coal, natural gas, geothermal, hydro, wind and solar.
Cojuangco said a large portion of the country’s energy mix remains dependent on imported fuels, with around 65% sourced from coal—primarily from Indonesia—and about 10% from the Malampaya gas field, which he noted is nearing depletion.
He added that the government has already begun preparing for a potential shift to imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), with investments in LNG receiving terminals and power plants underway.
“75% fossil fuels, ang pinaka-malaking renewable energies are hydro and geothermal. Yung wind and solar na 1% lang,” Cojuangco said.
The lawmaker said the Philippines has minimal domestic oil resources, making it vulnerable to global supply disruptions, including geopolitical tensions such as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Despite global calls to reduce fossil fuel use to address climate change, Cojuangco said he would support the continued use of coal in the short term to address electricity shortages and high power costs.
“Kung ako ang magdedesisyon, hindi naman tayo ang may kasalanan ng global warming and climate change, payagan muna ang coal [sa atin]. Kasi papano yon eh talagang kulang tayo ng kuryente at mahal ang kuryente rito,” he said.
Cojuangco said nuclear energy could play a key role in meeting future demand, citing projections that the country’s electricity needs could double or even triple by 2040.
He said the Philippines could aim to add between 16,000 and 32,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity, describing it as sufficient to support incremental growth without immediately replacing existing fossil fuel plants.
“Maaaring mag-triple ang ating pangangailangan. So, pwede tayong magsagawa ng 16,000-17,000 na megawatts ng nuclear kasi yan ang katumbas ng 75% fossil fuel na hindi natin ginagalaw yung existing fossil fuel.”
“In other words incremental growth pwede maging nuclear. Merong malaking malaking barya na matitira para sa wind, solar at kung anu-ano pang renewable.”
Cojuangco also cited pending legislative measures related to nuclear development. He said Republic Act No. 12305 focuses on replacing coal but does not include specific nuclear targets.
He added that the proposed Nuclear Integration Bill, filed as House Bill 8567, has passed first reading but has yet to undergo committee deliberations. At the same time, a separate measure, the Nuclear Liability Law under House Bill 375, has already been approved at the committee level.
