MANILA (Bernama-PNA): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is eager to help the Philippines identify the right systems and technologies to support its nuclear energy ambitions, its chief said.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi cited alternatives and newer nuclear technologies beyond power plants, including small modular reactors (SMRs), that countries like the Philippines could tap.
[W]e are going to establish mechanisms for further cooperation between our technical experts and the experts here, so we can make this more systematic in a certain sense and see what is more adaptable, what kinds of reactors would be eventually more adaptable to a situation like the one you have here,” he said on the sidelines of the International High Level Forum on Nuclear Technology (NUTEC) Plastics in Pasay City.
Grossi, who paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, said the Chief Executive is "very enthusiastic” about nuclear energy, which gives the country a fair advantage if it is to achieve its target to integrate nuclear in its energy mix by 2032.
"He's aware of the new developments, small modular reactors, and different alternatives that exist there. This, I think, is an excellent basis because in some other countries, technical people have to inform their political decision makers,” he said.
"Here, I think you have a president who knows a lot about that. So the conversation was very substantive, I would say,” Grossi added.
The Philippines aims to have commercially operational nuclear power plants by 2032, with at least 1,200 megawatts initially entering the country's power mix to gradually increase to 4,800 megawatts by 2050.
Beyond power, Grossi said the IAEA is "fully committed” to support Manila in exploring "wider peaceful applications” of nuclear science, including in addressing plastic pollution. - Bernama-PNA
