DOE to start accepting nuclear project bids in 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is planning to open its doors to nuclear project applications next year as part of a bold initiative to harness the technology’s potential to power Filipino households.

“Although we are unsure of the availability of the technology, our target basically is that the Philippines will be ready to accept applications for nuclear projects by 2026,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in an interview.

Garin said the timeline has been carefully planned to ensure that application processing and eventual construction stay on track to meet the government’s 2032 target.

She likewise stressed the need to put all systems in place to pave the way for applications, adding that all concerned agencies should be ready to execute their respective functions.

Under the government’s roadmap, the Philippines aims to have commercially available nuclear power plants by 2032, with at least 1,200 megawatts in capacity.

According to Garin, the government is also closing in on the decision regarding the fate of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a long-mothballed facility completed decades ago but never switched on.

“I think everybody wants nuclear in that sense because it gives us more (energy) security. But this will be not just an executive action but also legislative and also the local government. When the time comes, I think there should be a consensus,” Garin said.

Furthermore, Garin said the Department of Energy is counting on the results of South Korea’s feasibility study on the potential rehabilitation of the BNPP, which is expected to be released by February next year.

Earlier, the DOE signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. (KHNP) to unlock critical information that will guide the Philippines on its course of action for the Bataan plant.

South Korea has a deep-rooted history with the BNPP following the studies conducted by Team Korea led by KHNP in 2008 and 2017.

The DOE, meanwhile, recently organized a technical workshop for concerned government agencies to ensure the safety of nuclear energy use and discuss its environmental impact.

The workshop is crucial amid the strong interest from potential proponents in pursuing either conventional nuclear power plants or small modular reactors.