Manila Electric Company, through its power generation arm Meralco PowerGen Corporation, has taken a major step toward diversifying the country’s energy mix after securing a $2.8-million (about ₱162 million) grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to advance studies on nuclear power deployment in the Philippines.
The technical assistance will fund a comprehensive assessment on the viability of small modular reactors, or SMRs, including the identification of suitable technologies and potential development sites. The SMR Adoption Study is expected to begin within the year and will serve as a critical foundation for long-term nuclear energy planning in the country.
The grant strengthens Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition program, which positions nuclear power as a long-term, low-carbon option to support energy security and stability as demand continues to rise. By backing the study, USTDA is also enabling Meralco to tap deep U.S. expertise, particularly in advanced SMR technologies developed and tested in the United States.\
Under the program, Meralco will gain access to detailed technical evaluations of available SMR designs, leading to a shortlist of options best suited to Philippine conditions. The study will also include preliminary siting assessments and a high-level implementation roadmap that examines commercial viability, financing considerations, and regulatory readiness, alongside phased timelines and development milestones.
“USTDA is proud to lead the U.S. government’s efforts to develop strategic infrastructure projects that both our countries have prioritized,” said Thomas R. Hardy, noting that safe and safeguarded nuclear solutions can play a pivotal role in advancing energy independence while strengthening bilateral cooperation.
For USTDA, the grant also opens opportunities for U.S. industry to become long-term partners in the Philippines’ clean energy transition, anchoring future projects on trusted American nuclear technologies and standards.
Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said the support signals growing international confidence in the company’s capacity to lead responsible nuclear adoption. He described the grant as more than financial assistance, calling it a strong endorsement of Meralco’s vision and preparedness to integrate nuclear power into the national fuel mix.
Meralco has been steadily building partnerships with global institutions as it explores transformative energy solutions, and the USTDA-funded study marks one of its most concrete moves yet toward bringing nuclear energy into the Philippine power landscape. The company views the initiative as the start of a long but necessary journey toward a more secure, resilient, and low-carbon energy future for the country.