Philippines’ 2032 nuclear target faces doubts over development timeline
Draft energy tender guidelines envisage initial power deliveries in 2038, but the government has not formally changed its target.
The Philippines is unlikely to bring its first nuclear reactor into operation by 2032, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency director-general William Magwood said on November 4, pointing to years of negotiations and a regulator still being established.
His assessment contrasts with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement less than a month earlier that adding 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032 remained achievable. Magwood said a decision might be reached within six years, rather than an operating reactor.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin is reconsidering the schedule. Draft Department of Energy (DOE) tender guidelines envisage electricity deliveries beginning in 2038, although that timetable covers projects under the proposed tender and does not rule out earlier projects through other arrangements. DOE Director IV Patrick Aquino said the government had not formally revised its target.
The Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, or PhilATOM, is awaiting leadership appointments and completion of its implementing rules and regulations. Aquino said the DOE was developing personnel and pursuing technical cooperation with countries operating nuclear facilities. Magwood cautioned that finding qualified specialists was difficult even for OECD countries.
DOE surveys put nationwide support for nuclear energy at 82% in 2024, compared with 79% in 2019. Aquino reported acceptance of 60% to 90% in communities under consideration for nuclear development, depending on location, while Magwood warned that attitudes could differ between communities.
On waste management, Magwood said spent fuel could be stored safely in specialised containers for decades before geological disposal. He said the Philippines had not chosen its final disposal approach, making a cost estimate difficult.
