00:00Department of Energy Director 4 Patrick Aquino says it is an option for the power-hungry Paxilica industrial hub to
00:07go nuclear.
00:09When asked whether a nuclear reactor could be located within the envisioned U.S.-backed development in Tarlac, he says,
00:16That's part of the discussions.
00:19Aquino says the U.S. has lined up studies on how to power the hub, but he could not confirm
00:24the amounts involved.
00:25For us, the mandate of the Department of Energy is to ensure that there are energy options regardless of the
00:35location.
00:36So it's just incidental in this case that it's nuclear.
00:39The government has been looking for ways to supply electricity to Paxilica without burdening surrounding communities.
00:45Once fully built, Paxilica could use an estimated 3,000 megawatts of power.
00:51Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has warned that the effect of drawing that much power from the grid itself would be
00:57too dangerous for the average consumer.
01:00But setting up a nuclear reactor comes with its own complications,
01:04as Aquino acknowledges that regulations governing small modular reactors and micromodular reactors have yet to be firmed up.
01:11But since nuclear is heavily regulated, we have to really defer to the regulatory body, Philatom, on the necessary licensing
01:18as to the site and its safe operation.
