After partnering with the United States, China, and Canada, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is now setting up to send scholars to France next year to boost expertise in nuclear energy. 

The company said on Thursday that scholars may potentially be sent to Université Paris-Saclay.

The program, under the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) initiative, aims to cultivate a new generation of innovators by equipping local professionals with advanced skills and knowledge in nuclear technology.  

Meralco’s leadership team, led by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho, recently visited France to engage with leading nuclear institutions, including Électricité de France, the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission.  

In July, Meralco sent five engineers to join the two-year FISSION program in China and the United States.

The following month, Meralco signed Memoranda of Understanding with Ontario Tech University in Canada and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. 

Meralco Power Academy, the energy education unit of the distribution utility, manages and oversees the implementation of FISSION.

The Pangilinan-led power giant targets to establish an operational nuclear power plant in the country by 2028, potentially within President Marcos' administration.