An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission has completed a visit to the Philippines. The team, comprising two international experts from Türkiye and Pakistan and two IAEA staff, assessed progress made addressing the recommendations and suggestions made during the initial INIR mission in 2018. It reviewed the status of nuclear infrastructure development using the Phase 1 criteria of the IAEA Milestones Approach. Phase 1 evaluates the readiness of a country to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear power programme.
In 1984, the Philippines completed the construction of a Westinghouse 621 MWe pressurised water reactor at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). However, the plant was never commissioned. A presidential executive order in 2022 outlined the government’s position for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix. Earlier this year, the Philippines announced its Nuclear Energy Roadmap which aims to have commercially operational NPPs by 2032, with at least 1200 MWe initially and increasing gradually to 4800 MWe by 2050.
The follow-up INIR team noted that the Philippines has made significant progress to address most of the recommendations and suggestions made by the earlier mission and has adopted a national position for a nuclear energy programme.
The mission noted that the Philippines has drafted and advanced a comprehensive nuclear law towards enactment; completed assessments in human resource development, regulatory framework, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, and emergency preparedness and response; and drafted policies and strategies in the relevant areas.
“The Philippines expanded the composition of its Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO) to 24 organisations, and all sub-committees of NEPIO are actively engaged to implement relevant activities. This indicates the level of commitment of the Philippines to proceed with their nuclear power programme,” said team leader Mehmet Ceyhan, Technical Lead in the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section.
The team indicated that further work is needed to finalise the Philippines’ nuclear power strategy and to complete necessary studies for future activities related to the electrical grid, industrial involvement and national legislation.
“We welcome this follow-up INIR mission that will help guide the Philippines to safely and gradually progress in its aspiration to adopt nuclear energy alongside renewables in its power mix, while strictly adhering to global standards. This exemplifies our commitment to receive objective and professional international evaluation from the IAEA that will refine and strengthen our push to secure cleaner and diversified energy sources toward attaining inclusive and sustainable growth for our people,” said Raphael PM Lotilla, Philippines Secretary of Energy. “We express our thanks to the IAEA for its partnership and support. We recommit ourselves to work closely with the IAEA and all stakeholders of the country.”
