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Advocates Philippines
Interagency Task Force Examining Nuclear Power
An interagency task force is diligently examining the feasibility of nuclear power as a solution to the energy needs of the Philippines, according to a statement made by an official from the Department of Energy (DOE) on Saturday.
Undersecretary Sandy Sales of the DOE's Energy Resource Development and Oil Management emphasized that substantial work remains to be done regarding the utilization of nuclear power as an alternative energy source in the country.
Speaking at a news forum, Sales revealed that the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), based at the DOE, is spearheading the comprehensive evaluation of nuclear power. "There is indeed an interagency task force dedicated to studying this matter. The DOE serves as its home, collaborating with all relevant government agencies," Sales stated.
"Significant research is already underway, exploring various aspects of nuclear energy. The nuclear option is open to us, meaning there are multiple nuclear technologies available,” Sales added.
However, Sales emphasized that the Philippines lacks a regulatory framework for nuclear energy, which must be addressed before any concrete steps can be taken. "We are studying it, and hopefully, we will reach a point where we can chart our course depending on the situation. Nuclear energy has the potential to become part of the Philippines' future energy needs.
It is worth noting that nuclear power is one of the technologies that can swiftly respond to the variability of renewable energy," Sales explained. She underscored the importance of conducting meticulous research due to the risks associated with nuclear power.
The NEP-IAC's Steering Committee is scheduled to convene for a meeting next week to discuss further developments and progress.
Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed the government's commitment to explore nuclear energy, along with other power sources, to address the growing energy demands of the Filipino people and prevent a potential power crisis.
Even before assuming office, President Marcos had been considering nuclear energy as a viable option to alleviate the country's power shortage.
During his recent working visit to the United States, President Marcos explored cutting-edge micro nuclear fuel technology as part of his administration's efforts to resolve the challenges in the Philippines' power sector.
In Washington, DC, he held meetings with officials from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC), a leading global firm specializing in nuclear technologies and services.
Undersecretary Sandy Sales of the DOE's Energy Resource Development and Oil Management emphasized that substantial work remains to be done regarding the utilization of nuclear power as an alternative energy source in the country.
Speaking at a news forum, Sales revealed that the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), based at the DOE, is spearheading the comprehensive evaluation of nuclear power. "There is indeed an interagency task force dedicated to studying this matter. The DOE serves as its home, collaborating with all relevant government agencies," Sales stated.
"Significant research is already underway, exploring various aspects of nuclear energy. The nuclear option is open to us, meaning there are multiple nuclear technologies available,” Sales added.
However, Sales emphasized that the Philippines lacks a regulatory framework for nuclear energy, which must be addressed before any concrete steps can be taken. "We are studying it, and hopefully, we will reach a point where we can chart our course depending on the situation. Nuclear energy has the potential to become part of the Philippines' future energy needs.
It is worth noting that nuclear power is one of the technologies that can swiftly respond to the variability of renewable energy," Sales explained. She underscored the importance of conducting meticulous research due to the risks associated with nuclear power.
The NEP-IAC's Steering Committee is scheduled to convene for a meeting next week to discuss further developments and progress.
Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed the government's commitment to explore nuclear energy, along with other power sources, to address the growing energy demands of the Filipino people and prevent a potential power crisis.
Even before assuming office, President Marcos had been considering nuclear energy as a viable option to alleviate the country's power shortage.
During his recent working visit to the United States, President Marcos explored cutting-edge micro nuclear fuel technology as part of his administration's efforts to resolve the challenges in the Philippines' power sector.
In Washington, DC, he held meetings with officials from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC), a leading global firm specializing in nuclear technologies and services.
May 21, 2023
