SMR study begins as Meralco weighs Philippine deployment

The assessment will cover technology, finance, and commercial planning.

Meralco and Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) have selected US engineering firm Sargent & Lundy and AMH Philippines Inc. to conduct a feasibility study on potential small modular reactor (SMR) deployment in the Philippines.

The study forms part of a $2.8m technical assistance programme funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which was announced in February. The assessment is targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2027.

MGEN has established an SMR Working Group to lead the study and coordinate with Sargent & Lundy and AMH.

The study will assess SMR technologies and potential sites, grid integration, financial and commercial planning, decision-making frameworks, and stakeholder capacity building.

Sargent & Lundy will lead a vendor-neutral, US-focused assessment aligned with relevant International Atomic Energy Agency standards and international best practices.

The programme will also provide technical capacity building for MGEN, the Department of Energy, and the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.

“Partnering with Sargent & Lundy marks a pivotal step in turning our nuclear roadmap into actionable, data-driven decisions under our NEST programme,” said Emmanuel V. Rubio, President and CEO of MGEN.

Rubio said MGEN will remain “committed to exploring safe, reliable, and low-carbon technologies such as SMRs as we work to secure the Philippines’ long-term energy future and support the country’s economic growth.”

Felino M. Bernardo, Head of Strategic Energy Transition at MGEN, said the study will consider the technical, financial, and regulatory factors relevant to the Philippines.

“The study goes beyond identifying suitable technologies and potential sites. It will also build the technical capacity and decision-making frameworks that can support MGEN and our national stakeholders well beyond the completion of the study,” Bernardo said.