The Philippines is expected to miss its original target of producing power from nuclear plants by 2032, with the earliest possible date now set at 2035, due to extensive regulatory and safety approvals.
According to Energy Utilization and Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino, the grid integration of nuclear power would start around 2035 through 2038, pending no changes to the Philippine Grid Code and other technical requirements.
The Department of Energy is drafting rules to guide developers and stakeholders for a planned auction of the country's first nuclear power plants.
The projected timeline indicates that the government will fail to meet its original target of having at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) of commercially operational power plants by 2032.
Aquino stated that generating nuclear power could start as late as 2038, depending on the proponent's adherence to best practices and completion of the licensing process, which is expected to take two years.
Construction alone could take years, making it unlikely that a plant achieves operational status by 2032.
From 2030 to 2040, nuclear energy capacity is expected to grow from about 1,200 MW to 2,400 MW, according to Aquino.
The Philippines aims to position nuclear energy as a crucial component in diversifying the energy mix to meet emission reduction targets and enhance energy security.
Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed a measure establishing a national framework for the peaceful and secure use of nuclear energy.
The Republic Act (RA) No. 12305 created the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), an independent entity responsible for overseeing all nuclear and radiation-related activities in the Philippines.
Aquino emphasized that generating power from nuclear energy will be heavily regulated, with compliance to International Atomic Energy Agency rules and strict regulations on the movement of nuclear fuel and waste.
Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara noted that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 12305 represent a key milestone in the implementation of the National Nuclear Energy Program.
The IRR establishment would help ensure that the country's first nuclear power projects are pursued in a manner that upholds public interest, inspires investor confidence, and earns the trust of the Filipino people.
