Philippines Calls for Faster Development of Novel Nuclear Energy Power Plants During First International Conference on Small Modular Reactors

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Director Carlo A. Arcilla during the Panel on Regulatory Preparedness, Innovation, and Collaboration for the Safe and Secure Deployment of SMRs on 22 October 2024 (Vienna PE Photo).

VIENNA 28 October 2024 — The Philippines’ top nuclear expert called for faster development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet potential demand from countries seeking to utilize the novel technology in power generation.

Director Carlo A. Arcilla of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) participated as a speaker during the panel on Regulatory Preparedness, Innovation, and Collaboration for the Safe and Secure Deployment of SMRs convened at the plenary session of the International Conference on SMRs and their Applications in Vienna on 21-25 October 2024. 

The panel sought to highlight efforts made by regulatory bodies to prepare for the deployment of SMRs and discuss the challenges facing “newcomer countries” as they adapt and enhance their regulatory capabilities. Panelists included nuclear regulatory experts from nuclear energy “newcomer countries” such as the Philippines and Ghana, as well as experts from countries with advanced capabilities in nuclear energy such as Finland, the Republic of Korea, countries in the European Union, and the United States.

“The difficulty with SMRs is that there are almost no working designs. There are too many power points, not enough power plants,” said Dr. Arcilla, citing that there are only 2 working small modular reactors in the world and that more effort should be put into developing and commercializing such technologies more quickly. He also emphasized the importance of accelerating the development of regulatory processes in tandem with SMR development and construction. He added that the Philippines is currently in the process of establishing an independent regulatory body responsible for nuclear energy through appropriate legislation and that the country’s aim is to have a safe, secure, and safeguarded nuclear energy program. 

An SMR is defined as an advanced nuclear reactor that produces electricity up to 300 MW(e) per module, in contrast to traditional nuclear power plants, which often have larger power generation capacity but are more complex and more costly to establish. SMRs have advanced engineered features, are deployable either as a single or multi-module plant and are designed to be built in factories and shipped to utilities for installation as demand arises.

The International Conference on SMRs and their Applications is the first international event that aims to take stock of the progress and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and enabling conditions for the accelerated development and safe and secure deployment of SMRs. END

For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustria/,  https://www.twitter.com/PHLinAustria  or https://www.instagram.com/phinaustria/