Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving the Philippines’ nuclear energy agenda to pave the way for a more sustainable and secure energy future.
During the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum last November 15, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho (second from left) and Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Edgardo V. Carasig in separate panel discussions highlighted the company’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) initiative, which supports the country’s exploration and adoption of nuclear energy as a sustainable power source.
Aperocho emphasized Meralco’s proactive role in advancing the government’s nuclear energy goals through its effort to pioneer studies essential to nuclear energy development.
He said the power distributor is closely working with the Department of Energy (DOE) as it considers both modular reactors and conventional pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants.
“We are very aggressive on our pioneering works because we want to advance on the development stage, especially on the site selection. We’ve been working with the (DOE) on site selection parameters, environmental impact studies, and feasibility studies,” Aperocho said.
Meralco’s NEST also involves building a robust talent pipeline that will support the Philippines’ nuclear industry.
Meralco—through the Meralco Power Academy (MPA), has been partnering with global institutions for capacity building and knowledge sharing through Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program.
“On the part of Meralco, this will be a commitment in terms of talent development even if the nuclear energy industry is not yet here,” Carasig said in another panel discussion.
Meralco’s active participation in the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum demonstrates its leadership in supporting the country’s transition to nuclear energy.
Through its NEST initiative, Meralco aims to ensure the highest standards of safety, economic feasibility, and long-term sustainability of nuclear energy, alongside the company’s commitment to providing a stable, reliable, and sustainable energy future for the Philippines.