Power retailer Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said it enlisted foreign universities from the United States and China as knowledge partners for its nuclear energy push.
Meralco said it signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with North American institutions Ontario Tech University in Canada and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the United States. The power distributor signed an MOU with Harbin Engineering University (HEU) and Tsinghua University, which are partners of the China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd.
“Our commitment to explore the adoption of nuclear energy in the country is reinforced by these milestone collaborations with reputable international institutions. These partnerships will help us in having greater understanding of nuclear technologies, ensuring that challenges are addressed, and plans are well aligned with government policies prior to deployment,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said in a statement over the weekend.
Meralco’s partnerships with the foreign universities aim to ensure provision of adequate knowledge on managing a nuclear power plant, including best practices in the study of nuclear energy.
The company said this would also enable the co-development and implementation of nuclear energy related programs and conduct of joint research projects that will be beneficial to the adoption of the alternative power source in the country.
These agreements also strengthen Meralco’s own nuclear energy program, through which the company also aims to equip Filipinos with expertise on the nuclear power industry.
The company launched its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program in 2023 through Meralco Power Academy (MPA). The first batch of FISSION scholars is set to start their three to four-year nuclear engineering program in the United States and China.
“Through FISSION, we hope to cultivate the next generation of strong innovators in the field of nuclear energy, empowering and further enhancing the competencies of energy professionals to advance sustainable energy solutions for the country,” Aperocho said.
Meralco engineers Gener Atienza and Amiela Nicodemus would study in UIUC, while Marc Ceria, Justin Salas and Kenneth Tulagan will be deployed to HEU.
Meralco’s energy education unit MPA, together with the former dean of engineering of the University of the Philippines Dr. Aura Matias and Filipino-Canadian scientist from the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Dr. Ike Dimayuga shortlisted the top universities offering international graduate program on nuclear based on world-ranking, track record, access to nuclear energy laboratories and ongoing research on small and micro modular reactors.
Meralco said that upon the scholars’ return to the Philippines in 2028, they would be reintegrated into the company and be assigned to take on a role in its nuclear power generation unit.
