Manila Electric Company’s (MERALCO) plan to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) or micro nuclear power plants may be pushed back from its initial 2028 target to 2030, according to Chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan.
In a report by ABS CBN News, Pangilinan said that the timeline might be extended based on the talks with potential partners. Although the specific reasons for the delay were not disclosed, MERALCO’s CEO said that the four-year timeframe that was initially planned may not be feasible.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines SMRs as advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) per unit, roughly one-third of the capacity of traditional nuclear reactors.
Additionally, MERALCO is also in talks with American companies to support its nuclear ambitions. Pangilinan mentioned the possibility of starting with a smaller nuclear reactor, even as small as 1 MW or 2 MW, to build and operate in the Philippines as a proof of concept.
This would allow the local labor force to gain experience and prepare for larger-scale nuclear power deployment in the future.
MERALCO has also introduced the first batch of scholars under its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program.
The selected engineers will undergo a two-year nuclear engineering program and an internship with leading nuclear technology firms.
Two scholars will study at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne in the US, while the remaining three will attend Harbin Engineering University in China.
Pangilinan then said that these scholars, upon completion of their studies, would return to the Philippines to contribute to the country’s nuclear program.
He also stressed the need for diverse energy sources, noting that nuclear power could be a viable option for the archipelago, especially for island provinces requiring independent power solutions.
