INTEREST in nuclear energy as a possible solution to some of the Philippines' perennial woes with electricity supplies that are barely adequate, unreasonably expensive and environmentally unfriendly has increased in the past two years, thanks to the attention given to the topic by former president Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Sensing the moment, the most enthusiastic advocates of nuclear energy have redoubled their efforts to convince the government to refurbish and open the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), making their pitch at a recent forum on nuclear power.