Meralco, France’s EDF Partner to Explore Nuclear Energy

Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has signed a two-year cooperation deal with France’s Electricité de France SA (EDF) to explore nuclear energy as a long-term solution to the Philippines’ energy security and decarbonization goals.

The Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), signed by Meralco and the French state-owned energy firm, aims to assess the feasibility of introducing nuclear power into the country’s energy mix through site studies, grid integration assessments, and economic viability analysis.

EDF will provide technical and strategic support while conducting training sessions on nuclear reactor technologies and project management to build local expertise in nuclear energy deployment.

“One of Philippine government’s key objectives is to achieve greater energy security for our country and nuclear power is one viable path toward that goal,” said Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

“We see this cooperation as a significant first step for Meralco, and we are committed to taking a leadership role in advancing nuclear energy in the Philippines,” Pangilinan added.

EDF’s Senior Vice President for International Nuclear Development Vakisasai Ramany hailed the collaboration as the beginning of a long-term alliance, stating, “This is the beginning of what we envision as a remarkable, long-term journey, one that could span the next hundred years.”

The partnership may also lead to joint efforts to secure financing, including potential support from the French government, which would be vital to launching a national nuclear program.

This agreement builds on Meralco’s growing engagement with French nuclear institutions, including a 2023 partnership with Université Paris-Saclay under the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program.

Through FISSION, Meralco’s training arm, the Meralco Power Academy, seeks to strengthen the skills of Filipino professionals in nuclear science and engineering.

Meralco has also held technical discussions with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission and the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority, focusing on international safety standards and regulatory frameworks.

The Philippine government has identified nuclear power as a key component of its 2040 energy strategy, and the Department of Energy continues to study its potential role in reducing fossil fuel dependency and ensuring a stable power supply.

EDF, one of the world’s largest nuclear power operators, brings decades of global experience and technology that could help the Philippines establish a nuclear energy program tailored to its needs.

The collaboration comes as the country grapples with high electricity costs and supply challenges, prompting calls for more diverse, sustainable, and stable energy sources.

Meralco, the largest electric distribution utility in the Philippines, is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift by exploring technologies that offer long-term energy resilience and environmental benefits.