Marcos eyes micro nuclear fuel technology to address power crisis

WASHINGTON - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is considering a "cutting-edge" micro nuclear fuel technology as part of the measures to address the power crisis in the country.

Marcos met with officials of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, which is a US-based firm global leader and vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services.

Francesco Venneri, CEO of the company, expressed interest in bringing clean and reliable nuclear energy to the Philippines, describing the move as "probably a very important way for us to enter the market.”

According to Venneri, the firm is seriously considering the Philippines for its first nuclear energy facility in Southeast Asia as it promised to help address the series of blackouts that hit several areas of the country.

"We also note that there’s a great deal of discussion about Mindoro having blackouts and that might be an excellent….a good science [solution],” said Venneri, referring to the weeks of power outages in Occidental Mindoro.

The company is considering the Philippines to be its nuclear hub in the region.

The USNC said the micro modular reactor (MMR) energy system is a fourth generation nuclear energy system that seeks to deliver safe, clean, and cost-effective electricity to users.

The MMR is being licensed in Canada and the US and considered the first "fission battery" in commercialization. —KG, GMA Integrated News