Meralco cues nuclear plans in 2026
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is ready to lay out its nuclear plans next year when the Philippine government formally opens the application for nuke projects, a top official said.
“Yes, of course. We’ve been very aggressive,” said Ronnie Aperocho, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Meralco.
Last September, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the agency was eyeing to welcome nuclear project proposals by 2026. This is to further set the stage for the government’s target of activating the first 1,200 megawatts (MW) by 2032.
Meralco, led by billionaire Manuel Pangilinan, is the most ambitious local energy player that is vying for a foothold in the planned nuclear energy market.
Aside from sending nuke scholars abroad, the company has been in talks on research collaborations with a number of foreign firms with strong expertise in nuclear energy, like those from South Korea.
In August, Meralco said that it would secure a $2.7 million grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to finance its feasibility study on tapping small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines.
An SMR has a generating capacity that ranges from 300 to 450 MW.
However, the formality of obtaining the grant is facing delays due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Reports stated that the shutdown—with many public services temporarily halted—has become the longest in US history. This occurred due to a disagreement at the legislature over federal spending.
The grant “can only move forward once everything is okay. We’re hoping it gets resolved quickly so the grant can start running. The drawback isn’t major,” Aperocho said.
Asked if they were pursuing other grants, he said the US funding is already enough to support the study.
President Marcos earlier gave the green light for the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. This is a crucial policy move as it signals the current administration’s commitment to advancing the adoption of nuclear energy.
About 15 potential sites have been identified. Officials at the Department of Energy declined to reveal the locations as the agency still needed to gain the support of the local government units and host communities.
