The Department of Energy (DOE) received the Official Phase 1 Mission Report of the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission that sought to determine the probability of introducing a safe, secure, and sustainable national nuclear energy program in the Philippines.
“With energy security at the cornerstone of our country’s energy agenda, we need to bring to the forefront, intelligent, informed, and comprehensive dialogue on whether we could safely utilize nuclear power as one of our alternative sources to meet our ever-growing energy requirements. For the past three years, we have been working hand-in-hand with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to find clear answers to all our longstanding questions on nuclear power, most especially its safety aspect,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi stated in his acceptance remarks.
Headed by Cusi, the DOE-Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO) was established in October 2016, per IAEA guidelines, to spearhead unified and coordinated efforts and activities respective to the conduct of various studies and research on the feasibility of nuclear energy development in the country.
On December 10, 2018, the INIR Mission Phase 1 was conducted. The government agency presented a Self-Evaluation report, outlining the progress made relative to the 19 nuclear infrastructure requirement issues specified by the IAEA in their Milestone Approach – a comprehensive and systemic guide for countries considering the introduction of nuclear power.
The Phase 1 INIR Mission Report contains the IAEA’s preliminary findings on the country’s existing good practices, undertaken improvements, as well as the agency’s recommendations and suggestions for the DOE-NEPIO’s preparation of the Integrated Work Plan (IWP) that will address all IAEA concerns should the government decide to advance the use of nuclear power as a potential energy source of the country.
Led by Energy Assistant Secretary Gerardo D. Erguiza, the IWP Meeting between the IAEA and the DOE-NEPIO is set to take place on November 12 to 15, 2019 in Vienna, Austria.
