Philippine power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced plans to construct micro modular nuclear power plants.
Aiming to start construction within the next four years, Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said the goal is to provide electricity in remote areas in the country while successfully demonstrating the safety and feasibility of the technology.
Based on the official definition by the International Atomic Energy Agency, these power plants are small modular reactors that can produce up to 300MW of electricity per unit while emitting a significantly lower level of carbon dioxide. With only a third the capacity of traditional nuclear reactors, these small reactors are suitable for smaller sites, such as island provinces.
In partnership with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), Meralco is set to conduct a six-month feasibility study to assess the technical and economic viability of these reactors. Pangilinan emphasized the importance of a proof-of-concept plan to build these plants, eyeing capacities of even 5 to 10MW capacities after doing their due diligence in picking potential sites, analyzing the regulatory framework, and consulting with local stakeholders.
Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho gave assurance that the company would be transparent about the studies to ensure both regulatory and public scrutiny.
Despite expressing interest in building micro modular nuclear power plants, Pangilinan stated in a late-April press briefing that traditional power sources remain important amid surging demands from El Niño-induced higher temperatures. He recognized coal as cost-effective but least sustainable, and that gas would be the “compromise choice” despite being more expensive.
Source: Inquirer