By Benjamin Cuaresma
The Department of Energy (DOE) is expanding the search for possible nuclear power plant sites as the Philippines moves to establish nuclear energy as a long-term pillar of its electricity strategy, with the government targeting up to 1.4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2038.
Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo said the government is currently evaluating seven potential sites across the country as it prepares for the possible development of future nuclear facilities.
The areas under initial consideration include two sites in Bataan, two in Palawan, and one each in Masbate, Pangasinan and Camarines Norte.
Bacordo said the sites have undergone preliminary assessments with technical assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to determine their suitability and safety for hosting nuclear installations.
“Nuclear energy is not simply about deciding to build a power plant. We must build the institutions, the regulatory system, the technical capability, the financing framework, and the public confidence to support it,” Bacordo said.
The site assessments form part of the government’s broader plan to develop 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear generation by 2032, followed by additional capacity that could bring the country’s nuclear portfolio to 1,400 MW by 2038.
The DOE said the renewed nuclear push is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call during his 2026 State of the Nation Address to revisit nuclear energy as part of efforts to strengthen national energy security and help address electricity costs.
The government is looking at nuclear power as one component of a more diversified energy mix, particularly as the country seeks dependable electricity supply while reducing emissions.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin stressed, however, that nuclear power would complement rather than replace other energy technologies.
“Nuclear can add firm capacity and diversify the energy mix, but it does not replace the need for other technologies,” Garin said.
The DOE said nuclear development involves more than identifying locations, with the government still working through major institutional, regulatory and technical requirements.
Among the priority areas are electrical grid readiness, nuclear safety and security, safeguards, legal and regulatory requirements, emergency preparedness, nuclear fuel and waste management, stakeholder participation and development of a skilled nuclear workforce.
The government is also addressing the remaining issues identified under the IAEA’s 19 nuclear infrastructure areas, according to the DOE.
Part of the regulatory groundwork has already advanced with the enactment of Republic Act No. 12305, which establishes the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.
The DOE is likewise pursuing measures intended to streamline nuclear plant licensing and establish the policy framework for the country’s first nuclear power project.
It is also finalizing a nuclear energy roadmap that will lay out the infrastructure and institutional requirements needed for the Philippines to eventually commission and operate its first nuclear power plant.
Despite longstanding concerns over nuclear safety, the DOE said public acceptance of nuclear energy has been increasing.
It cited a Social Weather Stations survey showing public support for nuclear energy climbing to 82% in 2024, from 79% in 2019.
Nuclear advocacy group Alpas Pinas said rising electricity demand and continuing energy security concerns make it necessary for the government to accelerate preparations for nuclear power.
Alpas Pinas Lead Convenor Gayle Certeza said the developments represent a significant shift in the country’s energy policy, arguing that nuclear power is increasingly being considered as a viable option for meeting long-term electricity requirements.
She also called for the government to move beyond planning and begin taking concrete steps toward making nuclear power a reality.
For the Philippines, the challenge now extends beyond finding suitable ground for nuclear facilities. The government must build the regulatory institutions, technical expertise, financing mechanisms, infrastructure and public confidence needed before the country can safely take its first nuclear power plant from the drawing board to actual operation.
ia/xf
