Philippines, US to start talks on civil nuclear cooperation —US VP Harris

The Philippines and the United States will start talks on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement which will provide the legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines.

According to a fact sheet sent by the US Embassy in Manila, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the two countries were initiating the negotiations on the agreement to support expanded cooperation on zero-emission energy and nonproliferation priorities.

The discussions on the civil nuclear agreement is one of the initiatives that Harris will launch.

The US Vice President, who arrived in the country on Sunday night after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, is scheduled to meet President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

She will also travel to Palawan, one of the areas in the country closest to the West Philippine Sea.

"Once in force, this agreement will provide the legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines," the embassy fact sheet read.

"The United States is committed to working with the Philippines to increase energy security and deploying advanced nuclear reactor technology as quickly as safety and security conditions permit to meet the Philippines’ dire baseload power needs," it added.

The US Embassy said the deployment would support both energy security and climate goals, as well as support workers and businesses in both countries.

"The United States and the Philippines enjoy an alliance and partnership based on deep historical, economic, and cultural ties, and our shared democratic values," it added.

"The United States and the Philippines stand together as friends, partners, and allies. Now and always, the US commitment to the defense of the Philippines is ironclad, and we are committed to strengthening our economic and investment relationship," the US Embassy said.

The embassy said Harris' three-day trip to the Philippines reaffirmed the bilateral alliance and would spur cooperation on a range of issues, including: advancing clean energy, addressing the climate crisis, promoting inclusive growth and innovation, increasing access to quality education and health resources, combating trafficking in persons, facing common security challenges, supporting freedom of the seas, and deepening people-to-people ties.

Dialogue with DOE

According to the US Embassy, an energy policy dialogue will be conducted between the US Department of Energy, US Department of State and Philippine Department of Energy (DOE).

This, the embassy said, will serve as a “high-level platform for two nations “to develop new forms of energy cooperation, including short and long-term energy planning, offshore wind development, and grid stability and power transmission.”

On critical mineral supply chains, the embassy said the US will support the development of a nickel and cobalt processing facility in the Philippines.

This will expand the production of refined nickel and cobalt in the Philippines by 20,000 metric tons per year, according to the embassy.

The project will advance the sustainable development of critical minerals essential to the technologies for the clean energy transition, it added.

Moreover, the US will also partner with Philippine energy company Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to develop a geothermal project in Mindanao.

The Embassy said the project aims to access clean energy, reduce emissions, diversify the Philippines’ energy mix, and bring down energy costs for consumers.

USTDA office

Further, the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will open an office in US Embassy Manila to help US companies and financiers invest in the Philippine market, “supporting the energy and infrastructure needs of the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region.”

“This office will ensure that USTDA’s current pipeline of bankable projects reach financial close and that new project opportunities are identified in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, US development finance institutions, private banks, and other country partners in the region,” the Embassy said.

“Partnering more strategically with regional financiers will ensure high-quality infrastructure projects are financed and implemented using US technology and expertise, creating mutual benefit among the Philippines, the United States, and the broader Indo-Pacific Region,” it added.

Through the project, the embassy said that the US will help build partner capacity to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks in critical seaport infrastructure.

“It will also promote the use of trusted vendors for the installation and maintenance of digital and automated port infrastructure, as ports modernize and become ‘smarter’ and ‘greener,’” it added.

Among the other initiatives Harris will launch during her visit are those concerning food security and 5G technology, and health security.

The Philippines and the US will also discuss the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights (UNJP) during Harris' visit, the US Embassy said. —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB/KG, GMA Integrated News