NEA says Philippines could build new nuclear plants by 2030s

The Philippines could deploy new nuclear power plants within the next decade, according to Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Director-General William D. Magwood IV, following high-level talks in Manila to advance cooperation on nuclear development.

Magwood visited the country on July 30–31, 2025, after an initial trip in February to discuss the nation’s nuclear readiness.

“During the first NEA visit, we found that the Philippines has a very strong intellectual infrastructure,” Magwood said in a statement posted on the NEA website. “We believe that the country can deploy new nuclear build in the 2030s and the NEA is looking forward to developing close co-operation with the Philippines as the country progresses with its nuclear energy plans.”

The visit came weeks after the Senate passed a bill creating the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), a dedicated civil nuclear regulator. The measure, now awaiting enactment, will establish a framework for nuclear governance and safety oversight.

Magwood met with newly appointed Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials to discuss collaboration on regulation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange with NEA member countries.

The talks included NEA’s latest findings on small modular reactors (SMRs), outlined in the third edition of its SMR Dashboard. SMRs are a potential component of the Philippines’ long-term strategy to meet rising energy demand while supporting its clean energy transition.

Magwood also met with Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla to discuss joint activities in nuclear safety and regulatory development.

The NEA delegation met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials to explore financing options for nuclear projects in the Asia-Pacific. Magwood highlighted development finance opportunities for emerging nuclear programs.

The mission concluded with a site visit to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, completed in 1984 but never commissioned, which is being reviewed as a possible SMR deployment site.

The Philippines is positioning nuclear power as a long-term energy security solution, targeting grid integration in the next decade. NEA’s support is expected to accelerate technical cooperation, regulatory readiness, and financing strategies.

From August 12 to 15, the DOE’s Nuclear Energy Program–Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) conducted a review of the country’s nuclear laws, regulations, and policies to establish a legal framework for safe and secure nuclear technology use.

DOE Legal Services Director Myra Fiera F. Roa said the initiative aims to “clear all legal hurdles” before the government takes major steps toward its nuclear program.

One of the key developments ahead of the review was the June 2025 ratification of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, creating PhilATOM to regulate nuclear infrastructure from site selection to operations.

Energy Secretary Garin reaffirmed the country’s commitment to meeting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements. A follow-up IAEA mission in December 2024 confirmed that nine recommendations from its 2018 review had been met, with five still in progress, including completing a legal analysis for the nuclear program.

The NEP-IAC, composed of 24 agencies, operates six subcommittees addressing 19 nuclear infrastructure issues, from safety and regulation to fuel management and waste disposal.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, the government is targeting 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032, doubling to 2,400 MW by 2035, and reaching 4,800 MW by 2050.