JulianneH.

Gozar May 1, 2021

BSIE 1-2 Engr. Elma V. Luzano

Chemistry for Engineers

CHEM 20024

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear power has a dark entrance in the world. During World War II US military
successfully created nuclear weapons. They dropped the atomic bomb “Little Boy” that
contains 64 kg of uranium that instantly kills 80,000 people in Hiroshima, then dropped the
second bomb named “Fat Man” filled with plutonium that killed 40,000 more people in
Nagasaki. A few days later Japan declared its surrender that ended World War II. Despite the
military nature of the first nuclear devices, they strongly believed that nuclear energy will help
the world get back on its feet and provide cheaper power and endless energy. As of 2018, there
are currently 450 nuclear plants operating within 30 countries mostly in Europe, North America,
East Asia, and South Asia.

A nuclear power plant is a thermal powerplant that uses a nuclear reactor (a device
used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions
according to Wikipedia) that generates heat. The nuclear plant produces 1 gigawatt of power
per plant as average. A 1-gigawatt powerplant can power the needs of the city as the size of
Boston or Seattle.

Despite the amount of power that it can produce, numerous people are still opposed to
the use of nuclear energy. First, it can rapidly increase the use and production of nuclear
weapons. Currently, five countries develop their nuclear weapons from the past forty years.
Since it's nearly impossible to build nuclear weapons without access to nuclear reactors people
cannot easily distinguish a covert nuclear weapon program from peaceful nuclear energy.
Second, nuclear waste is not only radioactive but also contains extremely poisonous chemicals
such as plutonium. A milligram of plutonium can kill a person while a few kilograms can build an
atomic bomb. Nuclear waste takes about ten thousands of years before it can lose its
harmfulness. Until now nations can’t find a proper place where they can stay safe for years.
Lastly, There have been seven major accidents recorded in the past sixty years while dealing
with nuclear reactors or wastes. in 1957, 1987, and 2011 large areas of land in Russia Ukraine,
and Japan were rendered unfit for human habitation for decades to come the number of
deaths is highly disputed but probably lies in the thousands.

However, if you look at the other side of the coin nuclear energy also has its benefits.
Compared to fossil fuels whose byproducts were released in the air that causes cancer or lung
disease, toxic nuclear wastes were usually stored somewhere deep down the hole. Lastly,
nuclear energy is relatively clean while fuels were most harmful due to greenhouse emissions
that it releases that causes climate change and global warming.
 A nuclear power plant was built in Morong Bataan in 1976 under the regime of
former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos as a response to the 1973 oil crisis. Marcos
believed that it is the solution to meet the country’s energy demand and lessen the
dependence on imported oil.

There are proposals offered to the government by General Electric and Westinghouse
Electric. General Electric's proposal is detailed and contains specifications however the nuclear
plant and estimated cost is US$700 million while the Westinghouse electric is me much cheaper
but doesn’t have specification but Marcos preferred General Electric’s proposal.

The construction has numerous problems involving location, welding, cabling,

pipes, and valves, permits. A safety inspection was done in the powerplant and revealed 4,000
defects. Among the issues raised was that it was built near Lubao Fault, an active earthquake
fault running through the nearby Mt. Natib and close to the then dormant Mount Pinatubo.
After Marcos was overthrown by the people's power revolution the government decided not to
operate the powerplant due to the Chernobyl Disaster, oppositions, and concern over the
integrity of the construction. Opposition to the nuclear plant raised concerns related to safety
and health issues, use of uranium, harmful waste.

According to Pia Arcangel's report in State of The Nation, the supervisors of BNPP
believe that the powerplant is safe and capable to operate. BNPP enumerate the safety
precautions of the powerplant in case of disasters. BNPP has a personal hatch that is 24 hrs
closed once the powerplant operates to ensure the prevention of radiation leaks. Second, there
is a thick rubber that prevents cracked walls in case an earthquake occurs. In addition, there is a
1-meter wide negative pressure area in between a 1-meter thick concrete casing and a 1.5-inch
steel casing that surrounds the nuclear reactor to ensure that no radiation will penetrate.
Currently, there is no nuclear material in BNPP and other equipment was still covered in plastic
and still looks new. It has regular and preventive maintenance such as oilings to all equipment
due to its age but other than that most of the equipment remains intact.

The government paid NAPOCOR for a total of 4.2 billion pesos spent for the
maintenance of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. It costs $40 million a year to keep it running.
Later on, it was decided in May 2011 that the powerplant will be converted into a tourist
attraction. There are divided research that says whether it is possible for revival or not.

In my opinion, the dangers and risks of nuclear power plants are not worth it. If the
problem with fossil fuels is the gases and byproducts they emit in the atmosphere there are still
other environmentally friendly sources of energy such as wind and solar. However, if they
continue to research and eliminated all of the harmful risks and finds a solution for a better
nuclear reactor, storage for chemical waste. Or consider other elements such as thorium which
can reduce the lifespan of harmful waste and lessen the chance of build of nuclear weapons
maybe we can reconsider.
 References

3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Awesome! 3/3. (2015, April). Retrieved from YouTube website:
https://youtu.be/pVbLlnmxIbY

3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Terrible! 2/3. (2015). Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEYbgyL5n1g

Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. (2021, April 2). Retrieved April 30, 2021, from Wikipedia website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Nuclear_Power_Plant#Background

Ervin, E. K. (2009). Nuclear Energy: Statistics. Retrieved from

http://home.olemiss.edu/~cmchengs/Global%20Warming/Session%2017%20Nuclear%20Energy
%20-%20Statistics/Nuclear%20Energy.pdf

History.com Editors. (2010, September). American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Retrieved
from HISTORY website: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-bomber-drops-
atomic-bomb-on-hiroshima

Mueller, M. (2018, February 6). INFOGRAPHIC: How Much Power Does A Nuclear Reactor Produce?
Retrieved from Energy.gov website: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-
power-does-nuclear-reactor-produce

Nuclear Energy Explained: How does it work? 1/3. (2015, March 26). Nuclear Energy Explained: How
does it work? 1/3. Retrieved from YouTube website: https://youtu.be/rcOFV4y5z8c

Nuclear power. (2021, April 21). Retrieved April 30, 2021, from Wikipedia website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Origins

Nuclear power plant. (2021, April 28). Retrieved April 30, 2021, from Wikipedia website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_plant#History

SONA - Revisiting the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant 03/14/11. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2021, from
www.youtube.com website:
https://youtu.be/Lazv1K7gMcw?list=TLPQMDEwNTIwMjEJpiH5zabpRA