Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 31 at KHNP’s headquarters in Gyeongju, South Korea, to explore cooperation on nuclear energy technologies and their possible use in the Philippines. The signing was done by AboitizPower chief corporate services officer Carlos Ramon Aboitiz and KHNP senior executive vice president Il-kyung Choi, with witnesses including AboitizPower president and CEO Danel Aboitiz, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin, and National Power Corporation chief Jericho Jonas Nograles.
Under the non-binding, exploratory agreement, the two firms will conduct joint pre-feasibility studies, share information, and run training and knowledge-building activities related to nuclear technologies. Il-kyung Choi said KHNP will draw on its long experience in building and running nuclear plants at home and abroad to support the Philippines’ energy shift. For AboitizPower, the deal is a chance to learn more about nuclear energy’s possible place in the country’s power system. Carlos Ramon Aboitiz said this is an important step to assess how nuclear power can boost energy security and provide steady baseload supply, noting that any future use must be based on thorough technical checks and strict regulation.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated the signing is a key milestone, adding that a secure, clean and reliable energy future needs strong teamwork between government, private firms and global experts. AboitizPower is one of the Philippines’ top private energy firms, with a mix of thermal, hydro, solar and geothermal facilities plus energy storage systems. KHNP produces around 32.76 percent of South Korea’s electricity, running 26 nuclear plants and multiple hydro facilities, and has delivered major nuclear projects overseas such as the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates.
