BAGUIO CITY—United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson is pushing for the integration of small modular nuclear reactors to the proposed revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) as part of making the Philippines energy self-sufficient in the future.
Carlson led the Special Holiday Treat for concerned stakeholders at the Ambassador’s Residence inside Camp John Hay Tuesday afternoon in line with her attendance at the World Textile Congress being held in the city until Friday.
“Small modular nuclear energy is the way of the future,” Carlson told reporters at the sidelights of the Holiday Treat of the US Embassy to various stakeholders in the city.
Earlier, the US and the Philippines signed a 123 agreement on civil nuclear cooperation that served as one of the highlights of the recently concluded Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum 2024.
She claimed that small modular nuclear reactors, which were showcased during the recently concluded nuclear suppliers forum hosted by the Philippines are being advanced by the US government because they require less space, use modern technology, and are projected to produce cleaner energy that will help in reducing the cost of power in the country.
However, the US official is not discounting the possible revival of the BNPP because there are some US, Korean and other multi-national companies that have looked into the facility that used the Westinghouse technology to ascertain whether or not the desired investment to the plant will make sense among others.