Marcos, DL Group push 320-MW nuclear project talks

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with top executives of South Korea’s DL Group during the 2025 APEC Summit in Busan to discuss energy initiatives in the Philippines.

The discussions focused on DL Group subsidiary DL E&C’s collaboration with Meralco on small modular reactor (SMR) projects that aim to bolster the country’s clean energy supply.

A feasibility study for a 320-megawatt SMR project was launched in August 2025, signaling progress toward introducing nuclear power into the Philippine energy mix.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the SMR project is part of a broader strategy to diversify energy sources and reduce carbon emissions.

SMRs are compact nuclear reactors designed to deliver safe, stable, and low-carbon electricity with shorter construction times and smaller land requirements than traditional nuclear plants.

DL Group, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Seoul, operates in construction, petrochemicals, and energy, and is actively seeking investments that support the Philippines’ energy transition.

President Marcos has previously expressed interest in exploring nuclear energy as a long-term solution to ensure energy security and sustainability in the country.