The Philippines may soon establish modular nuclear power plants off the grid, subject to the issuance of relevant legislative laws, the Department of Energy said over the weekend.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said during an international nuclear forum the government already projected the inclusion of nuclear power in the Philippine Energy Plan by 2027.
He said the possibility of establishing a modular power plant in the country might come sooner, given the evolution of small modular reactors that are suitable for the off-grid or island areas following the passage of the Executive Order 116.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 116 creating the nuclear energy program inter-agency committee headed by the DOE. Its primary mandate is to study the possibility of tapping nuclear power and include it in the country’s energy mix.
“This would depend on the passage of necessary legislative policies on nuclear power, which are among the bills that have been certified as urgent, and must be passed by the present Congress,” Cusi said.