Philippines: 5 provinces shortlisted as candidates for nuclear power plants
Manila: The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified five provinces as potential hosts for the country’s first commercial nuclear power plants, marking a major step in the government’s nuclear energy programme. Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo identified the five provinces as follows: Bataan Palawan Masbate Pangasinan Camarines Norte The five candidate provinces emerged after initial…
The Philippines has identified five provinces as potential sites for its first commercial nuclear power plants, as part of the government's nuclear energy program. Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo revealed that the provinces are Bataan, Palawan, Masbate, Pangasinan, and Camarines Norte. These provinces are not yet officially selected as final sites for the nuclear power plants, as site-selection studies and regulatory processes are still in progress.
Each of the two provinces—Bataan and Palawan—have two potential sites, while the other three provinces have one site each, totaling seven candidate locations. The selected provinces meet strict safety criteria, including being located more than two kilometers from active faults and at least 12 meters above mean sea level to account for tsunami risks.
The government aims to begin accepting nuclear plant license applications before the end of 2026, with construction expected to start around 2028. The government's long-term goal is to achieve 4,800 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050, building upon years of preparatory work under the International Atomic Energy Agency's milestones approach.
The announcement follows the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority in 2025, which will oversee the licensing and regulatory aspects of the nuclear program.
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