Meralco wrapping up feasibility study on nuclear energy

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is making strides in its foray into nuclear energy as it nears the completion of a feasibility study on the development of a micro modular reactor in the country.

Meralco chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said the firm is already “wrapping up” the feasibility study in partnership with US-Based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC).

Meralco and USNC forged a partnership agreement in November 2023 to explore the possibility of using nuclear energy in the Philippines.

“As we deep dive into the safety, financial and site selection parameters, our goal is to build a micro modular reactor with a capacity of five to 15 megawatts (MW),” Aperocho said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

Aperocho said Meralco remains “fully committed” in supporting the government’s plan of including nuclear energy as part of the country’s energy supply mix by 2032 onwards.

“(We would want) to have some sort of proof of concept to convince the Filipino people that nuclear energy is safe, reliable, cheap and clean source of base load power which our country badly needs,” Aperocho added.

Meralco is also set to send at least five Filipino interns and scholars abroad to learn about nuclear energy under its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering or FISSION program.

The scholars are expected to return to the Philippines by 2027 or 2028 and be reintegrated in the firm’s nuclear energy project by that time.

“It is important that we are able to prepare our nuclear engineers by the time we start building or operating this micro modular nuclear plants,” Meralco chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Meralco earlier announced plans to operate micro modular nuclear power plants in remote areas by 2028.