The Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday it plans to begin accepting applications for nuclear power projects by 2026, with the goal of adding 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power to its energy mix by 2032.
The target is part of the DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), which aims to increase nuclear capacity to 2,400 MW by 2035 and 4,800 MW by 2050.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said meeting the nuclear target hinges on the availability of technology, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), which could be constructed in about four years.
“When we drafted the PEP, it seemed like there was technology available. But as of today, there hasn’t been any commercial small and medium reactor. If that’s not available, it will take longer to construct,” Garin said on the sidelines of the Philippine Energy Transition Dialogue 2025.
“Although there is uncertainty, our target is for the Philippines to be ready to accept applications for nuclear projects by 2026,” she said.
“It’s like that has been calculated: 2026, apply-process-and-construct, then it could be on time for 2032, subject to the availability of SMR technology,” said Garin.
The DOE is in discussions with other government agencies to finalize the application process for nuclear projects.
“We want all the agencies to be ready for that,” Garin said, noting a growing interest from potential developers in both conventional nuclear power plants and SMRs.
The DOE said several regulatory requirements should be met before operations can begin, including a license from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, a certificate of endorsement from the DOE and an environmental clearance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau.
The government also expects to make a decision on the future of the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant by next year.
“I think everybody wants nuclear because it gives us more security,” Garin said.
“This will not just be an executive action but also legislative and local government,” she said.
She said any decision on a nuclear project “should be a consensus,” as a project cannot proceed without support from the local government unit, the executive branch, and the legislature.
The DOE expects to complete a feasibility study on the Bataan plant, conducted by South Korea, by February 2026.
The DOE said it is “leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of nuclear energy use.”
The DOE-led Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), through its Subcommittee 5, recently held a technical workshop to discuss environmental regulations for nuclear power plants.
The committee plans to finalize an environmental impact system checklist for both conventional nuclear power plants and SMRs and to identify necessary data for the public participation process.
NEP-IAC’s Subcommittee 3 began an analysis of existing nuclear laws and policies in August, with the aim of diversifying the country’s energy mix to achieve energy security and a cleaner energy future.
The proposed Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) would be an independent body responsible for regulating all aspects of nuclear energy infrastructure, including siting, construction, licensing, safety and operation.
