Up to PH to request help on nuclear tech: Russian envoy

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines Igor Khovaev and Joint Stock Company (JSC) Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malacañan Palace on August 19, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA— Russia is ready to provide the Philippines assistance in exploring nuclear energy in the country should it request, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said on Thursday.

“I would like to emphasize that it’s up to you Filipinos to decide whether you’ll use sophisticated nuclear technology or not. As for us Russians, we are ready to discuss any option of cooperation, we are ready to offer our sophisticated nuclear technologies, we are ready to help you build nuclear power plants, including the floating nuclear barges,” he said in a CNN Philippines interview.

The envoy said Russian technology in terms of nuclear energy is one of the most sophisticated and safest in the world.

In around 30 countries, the envoy said nuclear facilities built by Moscow are functioning with no reported incident yet.

“The development of our nuclear industry has no incident.

By the way, Chernobyl Power Station is located in Ukraine, not in Russia,” he said.

Russia and the Philippines recently signed a memorandum of intent to explore the possible construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which was among the 10 business agreements during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Sochi.

But according to Malacanang, a nuclear energy deal between the two states is still “uncertain” due to the issue of constitutionality.

On this area of cooperation, Khovaev, for his part, believes ties on energy should not be limited to nuclear technology.

“Russia is an energy superpower so we are ready to supply energy resources to your country and to be a new reliable partner, a new reliable supplier of energy resources to your growing economy. It will help you increase the competitiveness of your economy,” he said.

Aside from energy, Moscow also offered to assist Manila in its fight against terrorism.

“You can expect the help and assistance of any kind. We are ready to supply our sophisticated arms and weapons. We are ready to help you in staff training, we are ready to share our experience, we have quite rich experience how to fight terrorism,” Khovaev said.

“We are ready to help your country to develop your own defense industry and we also share special specified info in this aspect,” he added.