Philippines Taps Nuclear Power in Historic Shift

The Philippines has taken a significant step toward energy transformation with a PHP 192-million grant and a series of international and local partnerships aimed at jumpstarting nuclear power development, including the introduction of small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

The initiative, spearheaded by global energy firm EōS Organization, includes collaborations with Fulbright Philippines, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), and marks one of the boldest moves yet in Southeast Asia’s energy landscape.

“This is just the start of a journey toward economic security for both the United States and the Philippines,” said Julio Amador III, executive director of Fulbright Philippines. “An energy-secure Philippines makes it an even more important partner in making the U.S. more prosperous and secure.”

A centerpiece of the plan is a Memorandum of Understanding with Fulbright Philippines, under which EōS will invest up to USD 400,000 to fund fellowships, training, and exchange programs with U.S. institutions, creating a pipeline of nuclear science professionals.

On the academic front, MSU-IIT will partner with EōS and PNRI to establish a nuclear engineering curriculum and expand research capacities. MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan described the initiative as a foundational move.

“We’re doing much more than just forming a partnership; we’re laying down the stepping stones to a new era of nuclear science and engineering education here in the Philippines,” he said.

The effort aligns with PNRI’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP), under which MSU-IIT is expected to become a hub for nuclear innovation in the country.

At the center of the technical vision are Valar Atomics’ “nuclear gigasites,” large-scale facilities designed to house multiple SMRs—compact reactors that are cheaper to build and feature passive safety systems that function without human intervention.

“SMRs represent a transformative step in nuclear safety and efficiency, making clean, reliable energy more accessible,” said Aaron J. Green, CEO of EōS Organization.

As part of this partnership, PNRI and EōS secured a CRP contract to develop an advanced Generation IV nuclear reactor, with the first test-scale models planned for deployment in the Philippines.

PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla welcomed the development, stating, “This partnership marks a significant step toward energy security and sustainable economic growth.”

To further this goal, EōS has awarded a PHP 192-million grant to the Philippine Nuclear Science Foundation (PNSF) to support advanced research into SMR technologies.

EXPERIMENTAL NUCLEAR REACTOR

Complementing the initiative is a proof-of-concept project by U.S.-based startup Valar Atomics Inc., which is constructing a 100-kilowatt micro high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in cooperation with PNRI.

The experimental facility will not be connected to the power grid but is intended to demonstrate the viability of nuclear energy for both clean power and industrial heat applications.

“It’s not going to be connected to the grid or generating electricity. It’s simply a proof of concept, the pilot project for future commercial reactors that we hope to break here to the Philippines soon,” said Kip Mock, president of Valar Atomics.

Mock said the facility is being built at an undisclosed location, with project costs estimated in the “tens of millions” of U.S. dollars. The reactor’s physics will be tested in a low-risk environment, with hopes that it can pave the way for larger-scale applications.

“We’re demonstrating the core physics at a very small scale, so there’s extremely low risk,” he said.

The initiative is especially critical for the Philippines, where more than 2,200 inhabited islands suffer from inconsistent power supplies and limited baseload capacity.

“There’s such a strong need here for reliable baseload that’s not interconnected,” Mock told reporters.

Mock added that one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the country’s power grid can adapt to the needs of distributed nuclear power systems, particularly in remote and underserved regions.

The nuclear push also gained traction through the signing of two nonbinding agreements in Makati City last week, supporting the development of a civil nuclear workforce.

“We see this as a very long-term partnership,” said Mock. “We see this being a multi-decade process of building out energy infrastructure and reducing costs of energy here.”

The comprehensive strategy reflects growing urgency to decarbonize the Philippine energy sector and address spiking electricity prices.

According to government data, fossil fuels still account for more than half of the country’s electricity generation, with coal at nearly 60 percent.

With these partnerships, EōS and its collaborators aim to position the Philippines as a regional pioneer in nuclear energy, bridging education, innovation, and infrastructure to create a low-carbon, economically resilient future.

“Our partnerships will help the Philippines achieve a stable, low-carbon energy future,” said Green.