By means of Heroes Joy Talavera Reporter
WHILE the Philippines advances In addition to conventional and renewable energy development, some energy companies are also preparing for the country’s future in nuclear energy by developing local expertise.
Kenneth S. Tulagan, a 29-year-old distribution engineer with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), is part of this effort.
Mr. Tulagan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Technological University of the Philippines – Manila in 2017, passed his licensing exam and joined Meralco that same year. He was selected for Meralco’s Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, where they were sent to the United States and China for further studies.
Upon their return to the Philippines, these scientists will be reintegrated into Meralco and play a role in the nuclear power generation unit.
“There is a saying that curiosity is an engineer’s best asset. When the program was introduced, I became curious about how nuclear engineering works. With that curiosity, my inner self wants to study the field of nuclear energy more because it is new here in the Philippines,” said Mr. Tulagan in an interview with Business world.
Mr. Tulagan is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in Energy Systems from Harbin Engineering University in China.
“I think the Philippines has good support in the development of nuclear energy because we have very skilled personnel who can help in the construction of the nuclear power plant complex itself, and also great minds of engineers and scientists who can help in the transfer of energy from a nuclear power plant. facility to our power grid,” he said.
Mr. Tulagan said the Philippines will benefit from the use of nuclear energy as it can help reduce rotational outages and increase energy supply during summer and peak seasons.
“Nuclear energy can play a key role in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply for the Philippines,” said Amiela T. Nicodemus, a 27-year-old distribution engineer at Meralco and also a researcher of the FISSION program.
“As electricity demand continues to rise in the country, nuclear energy provides a stable base energy source that can complement intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. This helps maintain the stability of the electricity grid while reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” she added.
Ms. Nicodemus has been sent to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US, where she is beginning to gain a strong foundation in nuclear technology, probabilistic risk analysis and renewable energy systems.
“I believe that nuclear energy has great potential to meet the growing energy needs of the Philippines,” she said. “With increasing demand for electricity driven by our growing economy, nuclear power can provide reliable, low-carbon baseload energy.”
Ronnie L. Aperocho, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Meralco, said the company is committed to building a “highly capable local workforce that can lead the Philippines into a nuclear-powered future,” as part of its Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition Program. .
“Through FISSION, we aim to develop industry-focused nuclear technology experts who will play a transformative role in addressing the complex challenges of nuclear energy development in the country,” he said.
Under the Department of Energy’s Philippine Nuclear Energy Program, the government aims to have commercially operational nuclear power plants with at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) by 2032 and 2,400 MW by 2035.
It is envisaged that an independent nuclear regulatory commission will be fully operational by 2026, including defining the role of government through policy and/or legislation.
Therefore, the necessary laws on the legal and regulatory framework in the field of nuclear energy should be in force by 2025. A legal framework for the energy contract mechanism should be in place by 2027.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world center for nuclear cooperation, said in its assessment that the Philippines has “made significant progress in addressing most of the recommendations and suggestions and has taken a national position on a nuclear energy program.” .”
However, in its follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR), the mission team indicated that further work is needed to finalize the Philippines’ nuclear energy strategy and complete the necessary studies for future activities related to the power grid, industrial involvement, and national legislation.
Patrick T. Aquino, director of the Energy Department’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said nuclear energy development in the Philippines will be driven by the private sector, with “clear support from the government.”
“We remain optimistic about achieving our goals. The results of the just-completed IAEA follow-up mission indicate that substantial progress has been made in our nuclear energy program,” said Mr. Aquino.
The advantage of nuclear energy is that it is high density and “90% available,” said Carlo A. Arcilla, executive director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
“Nuclear energy can actually support renewable energy sources. They should not be pitted against each other,” Mr. Arcilla said via phone call.
He said nuclear power is needed because other baseload technologies, such as coal and liquefied natural gas, rely on imports, which are “very expensive” because of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Mahal na nga ang kuryente natin, mas magmamahal pa (Our electricity is already expensive, and it will become even more expensive). The base load that can actually bridge the gap, without emissions, is nuclear, but the problem is that it will take time,” Mr Arcilla said.
Although nuclear energy is still young for the Philippines, the workforce is considered capable of meeting the demands of the specialized field through proper training and international partnerships.
“The Philippine workforce is ready for nuclear power projects. From our pool of semi-skilled workers, engineers and scientists, the Filipino can be adapted to meet the demands of the nuclear sector,” Mr. Aquino said.
Mr. Aperocho of Meralco said the Philippine workforce “is uniquely positioned to excel in nuclear energy development.”
“With our technical acumen, adaptability and innovative culture, Filipinos have consistently demonstrated their ability to master complex technologies,” he said.
The Meralco director said programs like FISSION would unlock the potential of Filipinos by providing “exceptional education and meaningful learning experiences on nuclear technologies worldwide.”
“We see our scientists and engineers as the forerunners of the country’s nuclear energy ambitions. Their technical expertise, coupled with dedication and cooperation, will enable the Philippines to overcome the challenges of nuclear energy adoption,” said Mr. Aperocho.
“I am confident that with the right training and global partnerships, the Philippine workforce will not only meet but exceed the demands of this highly specialized field, driving the country towards energy security and sustainability,” he added to.