Philippines Fully Advances Feasibility Study for Restart of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

Recently, against the strategic backdrop of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s active promotion of the country's energy transition and nuclear power revival, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which has lain dormant for nearly four decades, has ushered in a new opportunity for restart. South Korean enterprises are comprehensively conducting technical and economic feasibility studies, marking the return of the country's nuclear power program, shelved for decades, to its historical starting point. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was first built in the 1970s. In response to the severe oil crisis at the time, it was initiated by the government of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., with the site selected at Napot Point, Bataan Province.

2026-11-09

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...

2026-11-07

The Philippines Advances Nuclear Power Planning, Aims for 1.2 GW by 2032

Recently, at the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference held in Manila, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is fully committed to establishing the policy, regulatory, and commercial foundations for the country's first nuclear power project. The Philippine energy roadmap sets a target of achieving 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power installed capacity by 2032, with plans to further expand nuclear power scale to 4.8 GW by 2050. It is understood that with domestic electricity demand growing at an average annual rate of 3.6% and primary energy dependence on imports reaching as high as 51.5%, the Philippine government has positioned nuclear energy as a strategic choice for ensuring national energy security and promoting low-carbon transition. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin (...

2026-10-21

Philippine President Visits Singapore Nuclear Research Institute, Expresses Regret Over Suspension of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

More than four decades after the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) was mothballed, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos publicly expressed regret and disappointment over the plant's suspension. He pointed out that the core demand of the Filipino people today is access to affordable and reliable electricity, and that this should not be constrained by any particular form of power generation. The remarks came on the fourth day of Marcos's working visit to Singapore. On October 10, Marcos visited the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI), an institution established in 2014 to build Singapore's capabilities in nuclear safety, nuclear science, and nuclear engineering...

2026-10-11

Manila Electric Company Advances Small Modular Reactor Feasibility Study in the Philippines

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), have commissioned U.S. engineering firm Sargent & Lundy and its Philippine local partner, AMH Philippines Inc. (AMH), to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). MGEN announced on September 1 (local time) that the study is part of a $2.8 million technical assistance program provided by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The program was officially announced in February 2026, with the goal of completing the study by the fourth quarter of 2027...

2026-09-01

Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission Supports Nuclear Energy Legislation, Emphasizing Regulatory Alignment and Consumer Protection

The Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has expressed support for proposed legislation promoting nuclear energy development, stating that it would help strengthen national energy security and enhance electricity supply reliability. On August 12, during a hearing held by the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy of the Philippine House of Representatives, Krisha Marie T. Buela, Director of the Office of the General Counsel and Secretariat of the ERC, presented the Commission's preliminary comments on the proposed bills. Buela stated that the ERC is reviewing several provisions in the proposed legislation and will submit a formal position paper to the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy. Based on the preliminary comments, the Commission's concerns include...

2026-08-13

KHNP and Aboitiz Power Sign MOU on Nuclear Power Cooperation

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on August 5 that it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on nuclear power business cooperation with Aboitiz Power Corporation, a major private energy company in the Philippines, at its headquarters in Gyeongju, Korea. The two parties will strengthen cooperation around the development of nuclear power projects in the Philippines, advancing the exchange of nuclear technology information and preliminary studies for new nuclear power plant construction. At the signing ceremony, Choi Il-kyung, Head of Business Operations at KHNP, and Carlos Ramon Aboitiz, Head of Corporate Support at Aboitiz Power, signed the document on behalf of their respective companies. Also present at the ceremony were Danel Aboitiz, President of Aboitiz Power, and Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon...

2026-08-05

Philippine DOE launches nuclear power plant site screening with IAEA support

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) recently stated that it has begun preparing nuclear power plant site screening work in accordance with internationally recognized safety standards. Collaborating with experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the DOE is wrapping up an intensive workshop on site and external event design this week to strengthen the country's nuclear power plant site screening process. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated that selecting the right site is one of the most critical decisions in developing a nuclear power program, and that close collaboration with the IAEA ensures every step is guided by the highest international standards of science, rigorous technical assessment, and resilient public safety protection. The workshop brought together technical experts from the DOE and partner agencies alongside specialists from the IAEA's External Events Safety Section to share recognized methodologies for assessing potential sites against earthquakes, floods, volcanic activity, extreme weather, and other natural and human-induced risks.

2026-08-03

Philippine Lawmaker Says Nuclear Energy Could Ease Power Supply Pressure in Western Visayas

Mark Cojuangco, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Nuclear Energy and representative of the Second District of Pangasinan, said on July 29 that if the Philippines adopts nuclear energy technology, the Western Visayas region could gain access to lower-cost and more stable electricity supply. Cojuangco noted that Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas still rely heavily on coal-fired power, and the repeated power supply issues in recent years indicate the region needs more reliable and cost-controllable energy options. He is one of the principal authors of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (Republic Act No. 12305), which establishes a legal framework for the safe use of nuclear energy in the Philippines and provides for...

2026-08-01