Philippines Explores Restarting Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Project

Recently, as the new Philippine government incorporates nuclear energy into the national development strategy agenda, whether the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which has been in storage for decades, can be restarted has attracted widespread attention in the international nuclear energy community. The plant is located in Nagbalayong Village, Morong Town, Bataan Province, Philippines. Having experienced a troubled history and been in storage for nearly forty years, it is now undergoing a new round of in-depth assessment of its technical condition and economic feasibility.

Construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in July 1976, decided by the then Ferdinand·Marcos government, which ultimately selected the import of a 621 MW pressurized water reactor unit from Westinghouse Electric Company. Although construction was completed in 1984 and fresh nuclear fuel had been delivered, the plant was ultimately unable to load fuel and enter commercial operation due to financial pressures, seismic safety concerns, and subsequent political regime changes. After decades of storage and continuous annual maintenance, the National Power Corporation has maintained the facility's main control room and core areas in good condition.

In recent years, with changes in the global energy security situation and the need to address climate change, the Philippines has re-examined the strategic value of nuclear energy. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had previously assessed that the plant has potential for economic refurbishment. In October 2024, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced it would undertake a technical and economic feasibility study for potential repair options for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The study was officially launched in January 2025, comprehensively assessing the plant's current status and refurbishment options in phases. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has also actively provided support, hoping to provide a basis for decision-making through third-party assessment.

During the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference held in Manila, representatives from multiple countries visited the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant's main control room, turbine generator hall, and reactor containment. Plant Manager Noel Elmano emphasized that the facility is a well-preserved industrial-scale nuclear power asset. The Philippine government is currently actively building the policy, regulatory, and commercial foundations, having established nuclear power installation targets of 1.2 GW by 2032 and 4.8 GW by 2050. Refurbishing and restarting the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is regarded as one of the important priority options for achieving this ambitious vision.