Philippines hosts nuclear forum as power plans advance
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
The Philippines will host international nuclear policymakers, regulators, developers, suppliers, and investors in October as it seeks the partnerships and skills needed to introduce nuclear power.
For households and businesses, the stakes are reliable electricity, its eventual cost, and protection from nuclear and radiation risks. The public benefit will depend on whether financing, regulation, and technical preparations produce safe, dependable power and opportunities for Filipino workers.
The Department of Energy and the World Nuclear Association will jointly convene the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference 2026 and the Philippine International Nuclear Energy Forum 2026 as one event.
The gathering is scheduled for Oct. 20-21, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The DOE said countries are pursuing nuclear power to meet rising electricity demand, strengthen energy security, and provide reliable electricity with low carbon emissions.
New and revived nuclear programs are increasing demand for technology, financing, skilled workers, and manufacturing capacity. The conference will examine whether global and regional supply chains can meet those needs.
“The Philippines intends to translate this renewed global interest in nuclear energy into concrete opportunities for our own program. By bringing policymakers and regulators together with developers, suppliers and investors, we can build the partnerships and capabilities needed to move responsibly from planning toward implementation,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.
Discussions will cover the global pipeline of nuclear projects, supply-chain investment, industrial readiness, financing, localization, and workforce development. Participants will also examine regulatory and construction challenges in delivering projects safely and efficiently.
The event will explore how Southeast Asian economies can participate in the nuclear industry as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia consider nuclear power in their long-term energy strategies.
For the Philippines, the gathering provides a venue to present its nuclear energy roadmap and seek international partners for the regulatory, technical, financial, and industrial capabilities needed for safe deployment.
The Philippine Energy Plan targets at least 1,200 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, rising to 2,400 MW by 2035 and 4,800 MW by 2050.
Those planning targets differ from the timetable described in recent reporting on the DOE’s draft nuclear tender guidelines. A Sept. 21 BusinessMirror report said the proposal envisages phased delivery beginning in 2038 and continuing through 2047.
The DOE’s Sept. 21 consultation notice confirms that the tender guidelines remain under revision, with comments due Sept. 23, 2026. The draft timetable is not a final commissioning schedule.
The country’s legal preparations include Republic Act No. 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, signed Sept. 18, 2025.
Section 6 establishes the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, or PhilATOM, as an independent, quasi-judicial body regulating the peaceful, safe, and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources.
The DOE has separately identified making PhilATOM operational and completing its implementing rules among the immediate tasks for nuclear development. Establishing the agency in law is one step in preparing the regulatory system.
Alongside regulation, the government is preparing for workforce development, international cooperation, financing, infrastructure, and participation by domestic industries in the nuclear program.
The International Atomic Energy Agency identifies 19 infrastructure issues for countries developing nuclear power programs. These include funding, grid readiness, emergency planning, environmental protection, and radioactive waste management.
The DOE announcement gives no project-specific construction cost, projected electricity rate, or numerical employment target.
“For the Philippines, developing nuclear energy is not only about choosing a technology. It requires building the institutions, expertise and industries that can support a nuclear program safely and sustainably for generations,” Garin said.
“Hosting this global gathering gives us an opportunity to learn from countries with decades of experience, strengthen partnerships with the international nuclear community, and identify where Filipino professionals and industries can participate in the nuclear supply chain,” she added.
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