President Surangel Whipps Jr. advocated for nuclear power as a preferable energy source to solar energy during his recent keynote address at the 15th Conference on Island Sustainability hosted by the University of Guam in Guam, USA, on April 11, 2024.
He emphasized that Palau should consider nuclear energy as a viable option due to its stability, reliability, and zero carbon emissions, asserting that it could help Palau achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2032.
However, former President Johnson Toribiong, a key figure in framing Palau’s Constitution, raised concerns about Whipps’s stance. Toribiong suggested that Whipps’s advocacy for nuclear energy could potentially constitute an impeachable offense, citing Article 13, Section 6 of Palau’s Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the use, testing, storage, or disposal of nuclear materials within Palau’s jurisdiction.
“This statement could be an impeachable offense,” Toribiong said. “Palau Constitution clearly forbids nuclear within Palau, including nuclear power plants.”
Toribiong criticized Whipps for allegedly approving the dumping of nuclear-treated wastewater into the ocean during a visit to Japan, despite Palau’s well-established opposition to nuclear power.
“To talk about bringing nuclear to Palau on the world stage should at least require consultation with national leadership and chiefs,” Toribiong emphasized. “It took eight elections and lives were lost, so it is not a small issue.”
Regarding solar energy, Toribiong noted that solar production had only recently commenced and that it was premature to doubt its performance.
Engineer Rudimch from the Palau Public Utilities Corporation reported that solar energy accounted for 20% of total energy production last month, meeting the renewable energy target for March.
Whipps had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the corporation’s energy calculations and requested a delay in implementing new tariffs, particularly objecting to the inclusion of 4 cents toward Independent Power Producer (IPP) energy costs.
Frank Kyota, PPUC’s Chief Executive Officer, explained that the rates were initially based on projections but would be adjusted based on actual production. He noted that Whipps had asked for the postponement of new tariffs until July 2024, citing erroneous calculations.
During his visit to Guam, Whipps expressed disappointment with solar energy production, citing environmental hazards associated with its disposal of materials.
“If we move quickly and aggressively to pursue our renewable energy goals, we can reduce and stabilize fluctuating energy, potentially leading to lower rates,” Kyota remarked.
Kyota added that PPUC was implementing goals set by past and present leaders, including former President Toribiong’s 20% renewable energy target by 2020, former President Remengesau’s 45% target by 2030, and Whipps’s goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2032.
Whipps is currently attending the Our Oceans Conference in Greece this week.