BIZ BUZZ: Meralco’s next nuke talk stop: S. Korea
Manila Electric Co. of tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is heading to South Korea in July to deepen ties for its nuke dreams and pump up its distribution biz game.
Ronnie Aperocho, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Meralco, said a “top-level delegation,” including Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) president and chief executive officer Manny Rubio, would fly to South Korea.
“We will talk to the Korean players, not only on the distribution side of the business, but even in generation, including nuclear,” he told reporters in a chat.
Asked for more details, Aperocho said in a message that the trip will include a nuclear study tour, and distribution modernization talks with Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) based on the agreement signed with Meralco chair Pangilinan.
The official said Meralco will also sign memorandum of understanding with Kepco International Nuclear Graduate School, as it plans to send more Filipino nuke scholars to gain knowledge on the best practices in the field.
Rubio also noted that the trip would pave the way for “further discussion on collaboration for how to really move forward with nuclear.”
However, he said that any discussions on nuclear would be futile without government policies.
But Aperocho was hopeful that with Undersecretary Sharon Garin temporarily leading the Department of Energy (DOE), the realization of nuclear energy in the local market would gain speed.
The DOE official, who has been overseeing the country’s Nuclear Energy Program, was named as officer in charge of the agency. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla would be reassigned to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, replacing environmental chief Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
