Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has signed a two-year Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with state-controlled French multinational electric utility company Electricité de France SA (EDF) to explore opportunities for deploying nuclear energy in the Philippines, a move that could reshape the country’s power sector amid efforts to boost energy security and reduce carbon emissions.
The two-year MOC will see EDF provide technical and strategic support to Meralco for a comprehensive feasibility study. This includes assessments on site readiness, grid integration, and the overall economic viability of introducing nuclear power into the country’s energy mix.
EDF will also conduct tailored training sessions for Meralco on nuclear reactor technologies and project management. These capacity-building efforts are designed to equip Filipino energy professionals with the skills needed for future nuclear deployment.
Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said the agreement affirms Meralco’s commitment to explore all viable options to strengthen the country’s energy security.
“One of Philippine government’s key objectives is to achieve greater energy security for our country and nuclear power is one viable path toward that goal. We see this cooperation as a significant first step for Meralco, and we are committed to taking a leadership role in advancing nuclear energy in the Philippines. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with France inthis crucial area,” Pangilinan said.
EDF’s Senior Vice President for International Nuclear Development Vakisasai Ramany welcomed the partnership, describing it as the beginning of a long-term collaboration. “Through this important first step — and the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with you — we hope to make real progress at your site as well. This is the beginning of what we envision as a remarkable, long-term journey, one that could span the next hundred years,” Ramany said.
The strategic collaboration also opens the door to joint efforts to secure funding opportunities, including possible financing from the French government. This financial cooperation will be crucial for the implementation of a national nuclear program.
The EDF partnership builds on Meralco’s earlier engagements with leading French nuclear institutions. In 2023, Meralco and its training arm, the Meralco Power Academy, teamed up with Université Paris-Saclay under the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program. The initiative aims to enhance the competencies of Filipino professionals in nuclear science.
Meralco has also held discussions with key French government research bodies such as the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. These engagements focus on safety standards, regulatory frameworks, and technical knowledge exchange.
Meralco’s push into nuclear energy aligns with broader efforts by the Philippine government to include nuclear power in its long-term energy planning. The Department of Energy has identified nuclear energy as a potential contributor to the country’s 2040 energy goals.
As the country’s largest electricity distribution utility, Meralco continues to explore partnerships with global experts to ensure that any future deployment of nuclear power is safe, technically sound, and economically viable.
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