The mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which a South Korean energy firm has expressed interest in rehabilitating. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is updating its road map as it looks into the use of nuclear energy in a bid to diversify the energy source in the country, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said on Sunday.
“The use of nuclear power is also an important part of the energy mix that the DOE is eyeing,” the OPS said in a statement.
In line with this, the DOE will update the existing Nuclear Road Map to guide both the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization and the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee in addressing the challenges of the country’s nuclear energy program, according to the OPS.
The Philippines is looking into possible nuclear energy deals with South Korea, France, and China, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. considers the construction of nuclear power plants to supply the country’s growing energy needs, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute has said.
In his first State of the Nation Address last July 2022, Marcos said he believes now was the right time to reexamine the country’s approach and policy toward using nuclear energy.