In line with the country’s nuclear energy push, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is looking for partners to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines.
Ronnie L. Aperocho, executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Meralco, explained that its partnership with US Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. has been facing financial headwinds. As such, they are currently looking into other SMR partnerships.
“There have been financial challenges with Ultra Safe Nuclear, that’s why we couldn’t progress with our partnership,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing between EōS Organization and Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) or Fulbright Philippines on Friday, March 21.
In late 2023, Meralco and Ultra Safe signed a cooperation agreement to initially launch a micromodular reactor (MMR) pilot project in the country. The agreement also includes conducting a feasibility study for MMR installation.
However, in 2024, this partnership with the US-based nuclear firm experienced a delay in its regulatory approval.
“Now, we’re looking for partners for SMR; we have a lot of talks [with prospective partners]. But at the end of the day, that could only progress once there’s a law passed in the Philippines,” Aperocho emphasized.
“Before we allow them [nuclear technologies] to be installed here, the country of origin should run it for two years without accidents, unless the President waives the pilot and observation stage of two years,” he explained.
Aperocho further assured that while their MMR plans are still in pre-development, Meralco is looking into other partnerships.
“There are other US companies, and some non-US companies that are coming to us… Hopefully this year,” he said.
Nuclear tech coming in
With the recent partnership between the Philippines and the US on improving nuclear expertise and technological collaboration, modular reactor startup Valar Atomics has shared its plans to deploy SMR in off-grid areas in the country.
Kip Mock, president of Valar Atomics Research Institute, explained that its pilot project would not be included in the grid, but would rather be a prototype demonstration.
“It’s not something that hasn’t been built and tested before, but it is the first time this type of reactor has been built in the Philippines. It’s a micro high-temperature gas reactor,” he told reporters.
“It’s not going to be connected to the grid or generating electricity. It’s simply a proof of concept, the pilot project for future commercial reactors that we hope to break here to the Philippines soon,” Mock added.
This development came after a recently signed MOU among Valar, EōS Organization, and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
As part of the agreement, Valar will develop reactors that utilize advanced cooling systems and modular designs, which are said to minimize hazards and facilitate cost-effective deployment.
“We want to bring the cost of energy down in the Philippines and so this project, the contract with the PNRI is simply for that first step, that very, very small scale, extremely safe, extremely low risk, for the type,” Mock said.
He further noted that the partnership can be renewed; however, they have yet to specify the contract timeline for their collaboration.
“The timeline is however long it takes to get the work done. When we get that first project done, then we’ll move on to the next one. We see this as a very long partnership. That’s why we’re excited to be here working with universities,” he added.
Furthermore, Mock explained that they expect challenges in exporting nuclear technologies as a potential hurdle to this development.
“The biggest challenge is exporting nuclear intellectual property, and so I'm really grateful to [US] Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and the whole team here for getting this deal because it really sets the stage for us to be able to work here in the Philippines and do everything that we can to reduce cost of energy here,” he added.