On Tuesday, the U.S. and the Philippines struck an agreement to train Filipinos on building and operating nuclear power plants in a bid to boost the Philippines’ electricity supply. The agreement follows a previous deal (known as the 123 Agreements) on cooperation over atomic energy from November that facilitated US investment in nuclear power.
Therefore, given the new agreement, the Philippine Department of Energy, in collaboration with the Philippine-American Educational Foundation, will offer exchange programs and scholarships for Filipinos, enabling them to study renewable energy.
As Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, noted, the newly introduced programmes would “help the Philippines develop the skilled workforce needed to build a clean energy infrastructure, including the ability operate state of the art nuclear power plants.”
In tandem with Kritenbrink, Raphel Lotilla, the Philippine Energy Secretary, also affirmed that the training would make up for the shortage of skilled workers required in the nuclear sector. This is especially significant given the Philippeans’ need for energy and frequent power outages, given its reliance on carbon-belching coal for generating electricity for more than half of its population. To exacerbate the urgent need for energy, the Malampaya gas field, critical to Luzon, the main island, is predicted to dry out in a few years.
Furthermore, the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, has indicated the revival of a $2.2 billion plant set up during the previous government. “The Philippine economy is not only growing, but I should say it is also thriving. In fact, we are one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, [and] we are committed to fostering and continuing this momentum,” explained Marcos, at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum at Taguig on Tuesday.
Push towards economic growth
Marcos’ speech emphasised economic growth, diversification in supply chains and sustainability. The investments, by linking Philippine and American companies, would help to “accelerate the Philippines transition to clean and safe nuclear energy.” Corroborating with its climate goals, 50% of Philippians’ generated power is to be from nuclear energy by 2040.
