2024-05-17 06:35:00
MICRO NUCLEAR FOR PHILIPPINES
N - 3 May 2024 - Manila Electric Co (Meralco), in partnership with US-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp (USNC), is to proceed with a formal feasibility study for development of micro modular reactors following the completion of its pre-feasibility study. Meralco and USNC completed the prefeasibility study within the Meralco franchise area for the possible deployment of micro modular reactor (MMR) and fully ceramic micro-encapsulated (FCM) nuclear fuel technologies.
According to Meralco chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho they are “progressing already” with the study, which is scheduled for completion in about six months. “On the formal feasibility study, we will need to deep dive more on the financial safety and other very important parameters as well as on the site-specific study like where do we install these micro modular reactors,” he said. He added that Meralco is working with policymakers, especially the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE). “We’re very transparent about the studies that we’re doing and they’re (DOE) part of the next steps, especially on the site selection,” he noted.
Meralco Chairman & CEO Manuel V Pangilinan said the pre-feasibility studies had resulted in five locations being selected for the development of micro modular reactors. The locations will be subject to geological studies which should be complete by 2028.
“Our goal is to be able to start an operational plant perhaps in one of the island provinces to produce power and demonstrate that it’s a safe mode of producing power,” Pangilinan said. He added that USNC and other foreign contractors would assist with construction of the plant.
Meralco and USNC signed a cooperative agreement in November 2023 to study the deployment of one or more micro modular reactor systems in the Philippines. “It is important that we start today with a fairly modest proof-of-concept plan and they’re prepared to do that, whatever the size might be – five, 10 megawatts – and located in a safe place,” Pangilinan said.
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Earlier:
2024, May, 7, 06:35:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR ENERGY RISKS
The nuclear energy future that is being proposed now – small, flexible reactors distributed everywhere for many uses besides electricity – will not reduce, but will add to the
national security risks that are unique to nuclear energy. On top of this, cooperation among key states essential to minimize the safety, security and proliferation risks of nuclear energy is at an all-time low.
2024, April, 17, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR CLIMATE RISKS
"Climate change is expected to exacerbate natural hazards - including heat, drought, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and sea level rise," the GAO notes.
2024, February, 2, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE
For nuclear power to live up to the current hype it is getting, it needs to fully address its perennial issues and problems, and so far it has not done so.
2024, January, 29, 06:25:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR RECORD
While global growth in electricity demand eased slightly to 2.2% in 2023 due to falling electricity consumption in advanced economies, it is projected to accelerate to an average of 3.4% from 2024 through to 2026.
2024, January, 24, 06:30:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR POWER SUPPORT
The survey found that, across the 20 countries surveyed, 28% of respondents oppose the use of nuclear energy while 46% support it. Of the 20 countries surveyed, 17 have net support for nuclear energy's use. Support was found to be more than three times higher than opposition in the world's two most populated countries, China and India.
2024, January, 22, 06:50:00
PHILIPPINES NEED OIL
Beijing’s agenda in the South China Sea may also be spurred by energy interests
2023, November, 22, 06:30:00
U.S., PHILIPPINES NUCLEAR
The agreement was signed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla on the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Summit in San Francisco. The signing was witnessed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
