Meralco plans to build nuclear power plants by 2028

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is eyeing to enter the nuclear energy market to supply power to remote areas across the Philippines, an executive said.

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Nuclear power plants in PH?

According to its chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, the group seeks to pursue establishing micromodular nuclear power plants within the next four years.

Based on the International Atomic Energy Agency's website, small modular reactions are "advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit…"

Our goal is to be able to start an operational plant perhaps in one of the island provinces to produce power and demonstrate that it's a safe mode of producing power. We hope to do that certainly well before 2028, he said.

Pangilinan already gave his go signal for a feasibility study for six months with US-based developer Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.

The study was already "progressing," but the company has yet to finalize the project cost.

Meralco said it is working with the Department of Energy and policymakers on this plan.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer