The Department of Energy (DOE) is studying plans to hold an auction for incoming nuclear power capacities next year, a step in preparing for nuclear’s entry into the country’s power generation mix.
DOE director for Energy Utilization Management Bureau Patrick Aquino said the agency would undertake a process, including public consultation, to ensure any issuance has a legal basis.
“So there might be an auction. So, we will work. We will make sure that any issuance is supported by legal basis and, of course, will result in resilient, secure, safe and reasonably priced electricity for the consumer,” Aquino said on the sidelines of the two-day 2nd Philippine International Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) 2025 held at the Grand Hyatt Manila.
The DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan clean energy scenario 1 aims to have 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032, increasing it to 2,400 MW by 2035 and 4,800 MW by 2050.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin earlier said the DOE planned to begin accepting applications for nuclear power projects by 2026.
Aquino said a historic milestone for the country’s nuclear energy goals is the recent enactment of Republic Act No. 12305 or the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) Act, which serves as the legal backbone for nuclear energy governance.
“PhilATOM is the clearest signal of this administration, this government, that we’re dead serious in getting nuclear for power generation,” he said.
Aquino also noted that 2026 would be crucial in reinforcing institutional readiness, technical credibility and public trust to lay the foundation for a safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy future.
“Based on our timeline, if a private sector company wants to file a siting license application, they’ll be able to do it when it’s filed, hopefully by next year,” he said.
Aquino said the country’s emerging nuclear program is seeing keen investor interest, including from nuclear power suppliers.
The DOE is hoping multinational banks such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) can help de-risk nuclear power.
“On the side of the Philippines, we’re very happy that the current U.S. administration is taking the charge on making sure that the World Bank relaxes its policy for green investments to include nuclear,” he said.
“And we’re hopeful that with the push of the United States, multilateral agencies like the World Bank and ADB will revisit their investment direction and instruction when it comes to nuclear. Because right now, they’re not actively investing in nuclear power projects,” he said.
The high-level forum PINSCF 2025 gathered global nuclear technology leaders, policymakers, regulators, industrial partners, academia, and development agencies from the United States, South Korea, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Argentina and the Philippines. Attendees exchanged insights and collaborated on fortifying a robust and resilient nuclear ecosystem for the country.
