The Department of Energy (DOE) has expressed strong optimism about the country’s readiness to adopt nuclear energy, projecting a policy and regulatory framework in place by 2026 to welcome project applications. This developed as the DOE, through the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), conducted a technical workshop recently with key government agencies to iron out safety, environmental, and permitting concerns related to nuclear energy.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin confirmed that the Philippines is targeting operational nuclear capacity by 2032 but tied to the availability of technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) which are particularly viable for off-grid areas. The DOE also expected to finalize the environmental impact assessment process and checklist for both conventional nuclear power plants (NPPs) and SMRs, advancing the country’s nuclear regulatory readiness.
Garin noted a decision on the fate of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is likely by 2026, pending the results of a South Korean feasibility study expected early next year. She emphasized the need for unified support across local and national government branches to move forward with any nuclear initiative.
The DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050 targets an initial nuclear capacity of 1,200 MW by 2032, scaling up to 4,800 MW by 2050—signaling nuclear energy’s growing role in the country’s long-term energy transition. Major power firms like Meralco and Aboitiz Power have already expressed keen interest in entering the nuclear space.
With coal still dominating the power mix at 41.9 percent of installed capacity as of mid-2025, nuclear energy is increasingly viewed as a strategic solution for clean, stable, and long-term energy security.
