DOE unveils streamlined nuclear licensing framework, eyes 2032 plant rollout

The Department of Energy (DOE) expects a newly harmonized, whole-of-government licensing framework to cut red tape, provide regulatory clarity to investors, and keep the country on track to bring its first nuclear power plant online by 2032.

The agency said Tuesday that the end-to-end permitting flowchart was finalized after gathering inputs from more than 100 stakeholders from the private sector and academia, as well as 24 government agencies under the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC).

NEP-IAC Secretariat Head and DOE Director Patrick T. Aquino said approvals for nuclear power projects will now undergo a seven-phase process.

The process covers business registration; environmental and siting clearances; licensing by the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) to construct or secure a provisional permit; sector-specific energy approvals; operational registrations; construction oversight; and final licensing for testing, commissioning, and operation.

“We must ensure that every nuclear power plant project in our country meets the rigorous standards required for its safe and secure operation, in adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements,” Aquino said.

The DOE said it will present the NEP-IAC-validated flowchart to prospective nuclear investors, along with relevant policies and incentives, as it targets to begin accepting license applications this year.

Implementation will be handled by PhilAtom, created under Republic Act 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, signed in September last year.

“By finalizing this harmonized licensing roadmap, we are sending a clear signal that the Philippines is preparing for nuclear energy with discipline and foresight,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.

“Our commitment is straightforward: strong safety oversight, predictable processes, and transparent public engagement, so that when proponents are ready to invest, the government is ready to evaluate, regulate, and deliver our 2032 target responsibly,” she added.

Under the 2032–2050 Philippine Energy Plan, the government targets 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032, increasing to 2,400 MW by 2035 and 4,800 MW by 2050 as part of a more diversified energy mix.