MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), through its power generation arm Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), has secured a $2.8-million (around P162 million) grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to support studies for the safe and responsible adoption of nuclear energy in the Philippines.
The technical assistance will fund a comprehensive study on the viability of deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) in the country, including the identification of preferred technologies and potential sites. The SMR Adoption Study is targeted to begin this year.
The grant marks a key milestone in Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program, which seeks to integrate nuclear power into the country’s energy mix as a long-term, low-carbon solution. It will also provide access to American expertise and advanced U.S.-developed SMR technologies, leading to a shortlist of reactor designs suited for the Philippine market and preliminary site assessments.
The study is expected to produce a high-level implementation roadmap covering commercial, financial, and regulatory readiness, as well as phased timelines for potential project development.
Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA Deputy Director, said the funding supports strategic infrastructure priorities of both countries and promotes safe, secure nuclear solutions that can enhance energy independence while strengthening the U.S. nuclear industry.
For Meralco, the grant reinforces its push toward energy innovation through global partnerships. Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said the assistance demonstrates U.S. support for the company’s readiness to help lead nuclear energy adoption in the Philippines.
Meralco described the grant as the beginning of a long-term effort to build a more secure and sustainable energy future.|
