Manila  - Manila is giving thought to reviving a mothballed nuclear power plant in a bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuel for energy amid skyrocketing oil prices, a senior official said Monday.

Philippines Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said a presidential task force on energy discussed on Monday the possibility of commissioning the 630-megawatt nuclear power plant in Morong town in Bataan province, 90 kilometres north-west of Manila.

He the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) would cost 800 million dollars.

The plant was built for eight years starting in 1976 during the administration of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos for a price of 2.3 billion dollars. It was never commissioned due to strong opposition by the public, who feared a disaster in case of an accident.

"We will revisit the nuclear option," Reyes, vice chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Energy Contingency, told reporters after the group's meeting.

Reyes said experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency visited the plant three months ago and submitted a report that the BNPP could still be rehabilitated and used for 30 years.

Once operational, the plant can "provide cheap and quality" power for at least 30 years. (dpa)