The effort of the Philippines to lay the foundation for the intended integration of nuclear power into the national grid got a boost from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which pledged technical guidance to the government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
As the Philippines actively lays the foundation for the integration of nuclear power into its national grid, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pledged technical guidance to support the government once it opens dedicated green energy auctions (GEAs) for the technology.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told Manila Bulletin last Monday, June 8, that the Vienna-headquartered agency is ready to assist in the Philippines’ nuclear auction process, provided that the legal and regulatory groundwork for the country’s nuclear framework is clearly established and moving forward.
Citing his visit to Manila in November last year, Grossi noted that advisory support on the auction framework was among the topics discussed during his meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. regarding bilateral nuclear cooperation.
“We have also discussed the possibility of providing advice in terms of the bidding process. So there’s a range of things where the IAEA will be able to contribute,” the IAEA chief said.
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), said last year that it is studying an auction mechanism specific to nuclear energy, which would be treated similarly to the government’s existing GEA Program (GEAP). Patrick Aquino, technical secretariat head of NEP-IAC, previously said that overcoming legal challenges would allow the government to begin consultations on a nuclear auction.
Last November, the IAEA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Manila-based multilateral lender Asian Development Bank (ADB) to establish a framework supporting nuclear energy development in the Philippines, including the potential deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs).
The agreement includes knowledge-sharing and technical capacity-building initiatives, energy planning, nuclear fuel cycle management, radioactive waste management, and assistance throughout the life cycle of nuclear facilities.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the government of the Philippines will be able to establish the foundation of integrating nuclear power into the national grid before the term of President Marcos ends in mid-2028? Do you think the IAEA’s pledge of support will accelerate the nuclear-related developments in the country?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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