The Philippines is eyeing robust jumpstart on knowledge transfer as well as training on gaining and ramping up technical expertise on nuclear development and operations following the effectivity of the 123 Agreement with the United States.

This has been indicated to the media by Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla on the immediate effect of the nuclear deal’s enforcement – and this is regarded as a major step for the country on its nuclear renaissance pathway.

He explained to reporters that if the nuclear covenant with the US had not been firmed up, knowledge transfer as well as supply of equipment could not be done between the two countries – especially on the deployment of nuclear reactors and technologies that will be coming from American firms.

“This agreement provides for the safe and secure use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, for information, knowledge, and technology exchange related to nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation,” the energy chief said.

Lotilla qualified the covenant will “facilitate Philippine-US cooperation for the transfer of information, nuclear material, equipment and components taking into full account the standards and safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

Corollary to that, Lotilla emphasized that the agreement will be carried out “in accordance with respective national laws, international agreements, and regulations,” adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had formally informed counterparts in the US government that the Philippines had already completed the domestic requirements as of June 26 this year.

He expounded that the US nuclear deal will not just be beneficial for the eventual rollout of nuclear technologies for power application, but also on other uses -primarily for medicine and agriculture.

“The 123 Agreement will pave the way for the transfer of information and expertise, nuclear material, equipment, and components directly between the Philippines and the US or through persons authorized by their respective authorities to engage in transfer activities, which will support potential nuclear power projects with US providers,” the energy secretary noted.

He similarly stated that the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) “is now finalizing the country’s nuclear energy program roadmap which outlines key targets that must be achieved for the successful use of nuclear energy for power generation.”

As cast under the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), the targeted integration of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix will be by 2032 – and that will start at 1,200-megawatt capacity; to be shored up with additional 1,200MW by 2035 and 2,400MW by 2050.