Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest power distributor, better known as Meralco, has decided to pursue the conventional route in its goal to embrace nuclear power, as small modular reactor (SMR) technology remains years away from being accepted locally.
Meralco is looking to France for the expertise and technology needed to reintroduce nuclear power—an option abandoned in 1986 when the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was mothballed.
Despite concerns over safety risks, such as potential meltdowns and waste disposal, nuclear energy remains a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to coal and other fossil fuels.
“We will not build any new coal-fired power plants. Our option is to look at nuclear,” said Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie Aperocho.
However, given the time and other requirements for introducing new technologies like SMR, pursuing the conventional nuclear route—despite public concerns—appears to be the logical decision, Aperocho added.
