‘Philippines on track with nuclear energy targets’

MANILA, Philippines — Households may soon be powered by nuclear energy as the Philippines gears up for the safe utilization of nuclear energy for power generation, according to Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Lotilla said the Department of Energy, through the Nuclear Energy Program-Interagency Committee, is now finalizing the country’s nuclear energy roadmap.

He noted that the roadmap would outline the government’s key targets that must be achieved to finally unleash nuclear energy in the country’s generation mix.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country aims to have a nuclear capacity of at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) by 2032 and increase it to 2,400 MW and 4,800 MW by 2035 and 2050, respectively.

Lotilla made this statement following the entry into force of the landmark “123 agreement” between Manila and Washington for potential Philippine nuclear power projects with US providers.

The deal, signed in November 2023 after about seven months of negotiations, is expected to enhance the collaboration of the two countries in fostering clean energy and ensuring energy security.

“This agreement provides for the safe and secure use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, for information, knowledge and technology exchange related to nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation,” Lotilla said.

He added that the partnership would also facilitate the transfer of information and expertise, nuclear material, equipment (including reactors) and components directly between the Philippines and the US.

In a media briefing yesterday, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara encouraged the private sector to invest in nuclear energy to boost the country’s targets.

“Our hope is that the private sector in our country will pursue nuclear power because we have a target by 2032. We saw that Meralco (Manila Electric Co.) already completed its pre-feasibility study, and they’re going after a micro-modular reactor system,” Guevara said.

In May, Meralco announced that it was wrapping up the feasibility study with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. for the development of micro-nuclear power plants.

Meralco COO Ronnie Aperocho earlier said the firm has continued to dive into the safety, financial and site selection parameters in line with its plans to build a micro-modular reactor with a capacity of five to 15 MW.

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