As the country strives to develop a reliable and affordable energy that’s also green, it’s clear that renewables like solar and wind alone won’t be enough. Nuclear could fill the gap, offering a steady energy source to balance the grid.

Following the conclusion of the Follow-Up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission in the country, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognized the Philippines’ crucial steps toward advancing its nuclear energy program.

IAEA cited the country’s adoption of a clear national position on nuclear energy through a Presidential Executive Order, alongside initiatives to draft comprehensive nuclear legislation.

Under Executive Order 164 (series of 2022), the Philippines aims to integrate nuclear energy into its mix. It targets operating its first nuclear power plants by 2032 with an initial capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW), expanding to 4,800 MW by 2050.

It also noted that the government has also ramped up its capacities in areas such as human resource development, regulatory frameworks, radiation protection, radioactive waste management and emergency preparedness and response.

IAEA validates efforts

Energy Secretary Perpetuo Lotilla described the assessment as an encouraging validation of the government’s efforts.

“The IAEA’s recognition of our progress in addressing most of the recommendations and suggestions from the initial 2018 INIR Mission reflects the Philippine government’s steadfast commitment to developing a robust nuclear power program,” he said.

“The Department of Energy (DoE) remains fully committed to working with the IAEA and all stakeholders as we continue to build a future where clean, reliable, and affordable energy powers the progress of the country and the Filipino people,” Lotilla said.

The DoE, through the Nuclear Energy Program — Inter-Agency Committee, leads the country’s nuclear energy efforts, taking a whole-of-government approach to ensure successful integration.

In a related development, Danel C. Aboitiz, president and CEO of Aboitiz Power Corp., recently shared his insights on the prospects of nuclear energy.

Pressed on the possibility of venturing into nuclear, Aboitiz admitted that the company has no concrete plans yet on how it can participate in the potential integration of this new power source into the national power mix — suggesting that while nuclear power could play a role in the country’s decarbonized future, the road ahead is riddled with challenges.

Aboitiz stressed that nuclear energy demands stability in the rule of law and long-term economic use to justify the significant capital expenditure involved.

“To make nuclear work for you, which I think is the ultimate goal, you need to benefit from economies of scale. You would want to spread the cost of a certain kind of national infrastructure that we have to invest in. In investing in nuclear, it’s all cash up front so you need the stability of the rule of law,” he explained.