Metro Manila, Philippines — The Marcos administration is eyeing to expand the country’s energy sources by updating the Philippine Energy Plan with the use of nuclear power as one of its priorities, Malacañang said on Sunday.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the Department of Energy (DOE) will be the agency responsible for updating the Philippine Energy Plan to guide the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO) and the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC).
“The use of nuclear power is also an important part of the energy mix that the DOE is eyeing,” the OPS said in a statement.
Marcos has been vocal about his interest in revisiting policies on nuclear energy use and in building nuclear power plants in the country.
During the last quarter of 2022, the chief executive also expressed interest in deals and partnerships with other countries on using nuclear power.
Critics have warned that nuclear power would pose more risks to the country as they called for the government to instead focus on renewable energy sources.
“The DOE, in collaboration with the Energy Regulatory Commission, is also set to develop the policy and framework for new and emerging renewable energy technologies. These include offshore wind, waste-to-energy, expanded rooftop solar program, as well as ocean and tidal stream energy,” the OPS said.
Among the DOE’s main goals for 2023 are to pursue emergency measures and actions to ensure energy supply during times of need, push for the continuous development of alternative fuels, and increase access to electricity.
