The Philippines and the United States launched the US-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) last week, as an attempt to reassert the importance of nuclear energy in providing energy security.
This dialogue aims to propel the commitments made by the participating countries on energy access, energy security, and clean energy transition as agreed upon during the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris last year.
A report by the Philippine Star said that representatives from the United States and the Philippines reviewed the advancement of the current energy project the Philippines have and also organized priorities for future cooperation.
The representatives also emphasized their continuing collaboration on enhancing small modular reactor capacity building and deliberated on the upcoming actions to progress toward deployment while adhering to the exact requirements of nuclear security, safety, and nonproliferation.
Furthermore, the US State Department said that this dialogue strengthened the significance of energy collaboration in bolstering the US-Philippine alliance. It also focused on expediting the rollout of renewable energy, updating and extending transmission capabilities, and lessening the reliance on imported fossil fuels.
When put into effect, this agreement will equip a legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines.
The White House said that the US is ready to work with the Philippines to improve energy security and bring in advanced nuclear reactor technology as quickly as safety and security allow, to meet the country’s important baseload power needs.
Following the inauguration of EPD, the US Department of Energy leadership and Deputy Secretary David Turk will visit the country to continue the partnership on shared energy transition priorities
