A law governing the development and integration of nuclear power into the country's national grid is expected to be ratified in 2024, a move that the Department of Energy or DoE said will be beneficial in boosting its efforts to diversify local power sources.
During a press conference on Thursday, Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin revealed that the DoE is expected to complete the National Roadmap for Nuclear Power by next week. It will enable the easy and safe integration of nuclear power into the main grid as soon as 2032.
"By next week, we are wrapping up the roadmap up to 2032 with the objective or target that we want nuclear, hopefully, to be included in the energy mix by 2032 or 2033," Garin told reporters.
"We need to prepare because the construction of facilities would take about four to five years and the review of the project would be another four or five years so everything should be ready by next year," she added.
Additionally, the DoE and all other concerned government agencies are actively looking out for possible sites where a nuclear power plant can be built.
The House Nuclear Energy Committee approved a consolidated substitute bill last March that seeks to comprehensive atomic regulatory framework and establish the Philippine Atomic Regulatory Commission.
Since the government is prohibited from taking on power generation endeavors, the DoE has also tapped the National Economic and Development Authority to work on the private sector's participation in nuclear development.
Last month, the Philippines and the United States of America signed the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy or the 123 Agreement.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla signed the Agreement on behalf of the Philippines as Chair of the Philippine Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee or NEPIAC. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, on the other hand, signed on behalf of the United States.
The 123 Agreement primarily outlines the legal framework for potential nuclear power projects with US providers.
It aims to facilitate cooperation between the parties in the safe and secure use of nuclear energy following the standards and safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The deal will allow the transfer of information, nuclear material, equipment, and components directly between the Philippines and the US or through persons authorized by their respective authorities to engage in transfer activities, which will support potential nuclear power projects with US providers.
The government has long been exploring nuclear power as a viable energy source in line with the global push to reduce fossil fuel use due to its hazardous carbon emissions.
Nuclear energy can also potentially energize small islands by putting up small modular nuclear power plants, especially in areas not yet connected to the main grid.
