Philippines identifies seven potential nuclear power plant sites

The Philippine government has identified seven potential sites for nuclear power plants across five provinces as part of a plan to add 1.4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity within 12 years. The Department of Energy (DOE) reported that the sites, located in Bataan, Palawan, Masbate, Pangasinan, and Camarines Norte, have passed preliminary safety evaluations. According to Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, the locations meet strict safety criteria, including being situated more than two kilometers from active faults and maintaining elevations sufficient to clear modeled tsunami heights.

In support of this transition, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has expressed support for proposed legislation intended to strengthen energy security and reliability. The ERC is currently reviewing regulatory and market-related provisions, such as long-term power supply agreements and electricity market mechanisms. The Commission emphasized the need for a framework that ensures the orderly integration of nuclear power while protecting consumers from unexpected increases in electricity costs.