The Department of Energy (DOE) is ramping up efforts to prepare the country’s electricity distribution utilities (DUs) for the eventual integration of nuclear power, highlighting the sector’s critical role in delivering future nuclear-generated electricity to consumers.

The agency on Sunday said it convened the fourth Nuclear Energy Workshop Series (NEWS) on July 2 in Clark, Pampanga, gathering hundreds of representatives from distribution utilities in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon, along with officials from key energy agencies and members of the DOE-led Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee.

The workshop forms part of the government’s preparations for the Philippine Nuclear Energy Program, with discussions focused on the technical, operational, regulatory, and infrastructure requirements needed to integrate nuclear power into the country’s electricity system.

Opening the event, Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo, co-chairperson of the Nuclear Energy Program Coordinating Committee, said the country’s nuclear ambitions extend beyond building power plants.

“The successful integration of nuclear power goes beyond infrastructure. It requires informed stakeholders, strong institutions, and coordinated action across the entire electricity value chain,” Bacordo said.

He underscored the role of distribution utilities in ensuring that electricity generated by future nuclear plants reaches consumers safely and reliably.

“Their readiness will be essential as we prepare the country’s power sector for the future adoption of nuclear energy,” he added.

DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino said distribution utilities must coordinate closely with the DOE and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to prepare distribution systems for nuclear-generated baseload capacity.

“This includes coordinating system planning with the DOE and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, preparing for power flow and voltage management requirements, protecting consumer interests through transparent implementation, and continuously strengthening technical capabilities through capacity-building and nuclear safety awareness initiatives,” he said.

The workshop also updated participants on the country’s evolving nuclear regulatory framework.

Representatives from the Food and Drug Administration discussed Republic Act No. 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Safety Act, which created the Philippine Atomic Energy Agency (PhilAtom) and strengthened the country’s independent nuclear safety regulatory system.

Meanwhile, DOE officials briefed participants on Department Circular No. 2025-10-0019, which establishes the policy framework for the country’s first commercial nuclear power plant, including provisions that could affect the power distribution sector.

The event also served as a venue for distribution utilities to raise operational concerns and recommend policy improvements, which the agency said will help refine the implementation of the country’s nuclear energy program.

The Nuclear Energy Workshop Series is part of the DOE’s broader effort to build technical capacity across the electricity industry as the Philippines advances plans to include nuclear power in its long-term energy mix. 

Previous sessions were held virtually for stakeholders in Cebu, Legazpi, Iloilo, and Davao, with additional workshops planned nationwide.

What are your thoughts on the DOE’s push to prepare distribution utilities for nuclear power integration? Can the country’s distribution sector keep pace with the government’s nuclear energy roadmap?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more news and updates on the Philippine energy sector.