THE Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a plan that defines policies and procedures in developing nuclear energy in the country, including the building of its first nuclear power plant, and securing funding from potential investors.
According to the guidelines in the “Policy Framework for the Commercial Development of a Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines,” the project will be limited to building small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors and floating nuclear power plants (FNPP).
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines SMRs as advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts electric per unit, or one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity.
Microreactors, which produce no more than 20 MW(e), can provide the electricity needs of remote communities and power non-electric applications including desalination and chemical production.
FNPPs are transportable or relocatable nuclear plants which can produce electricity, heat, and desalinated water.
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Overall supervision of the plant will be handled by the DOE, with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) as electricity grid system operator.
The DOE is also tasked to study all options for financing the project; plan with the NGCP to ensure the availability of the plant’s transmission capacity; and determine with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) the roles of distribution utilities and the National Electrification Administration.
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The ERC will determine the price-setting methodology, as well as the costs for maintenance of the plant, and the issuance of the plant’s certificate of compliance in coordination with relevant government agencies.
The NGCP is responsible for coordinating with the plant developer from the start of the project through construction and transmission; building the plant’s transmission infrastructure; and ensure that the transmission network can accommodate a 1,200 megawatt nuclear power plant by 2032, as envisioned in the Philippine Energy Plan.
Also part of the NGCP’s duties are conducting a system impact study for the project; and ensuring that, in the next Transmission Development Plan after the issuance of this circular, to include nuclear energy in the expansion and enhancement of the national grid, with adoption of IAEA standards for such projects.
It will likewise be in charge of manpower capacity for operating the plant, in partnership with the nuclear energy program implementing organization (Nepio), or with other development partners.
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