PH gov’t finalizes streamlined licensing roadmap for nuclear power projects
The Philippine government has completed a harmonized, whole-of-government licensing and permitting flowchart for nuclear power plant projects, a key step toward enabling the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power facilities by 2032 aimed at meeting the country’s growing energy demand.
The streamlined end-to-end licensing framework was formulated during a whole-day Focus Group Discussion on Harmonizing Nuclear Power Plant Licensing in the Philippines held last 11 February 2026 at the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City.
Led by Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Finance Undersecretary Catherine L. Fong and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Carlo A. Arcilla, the discussion gathered over a hundred stakeholders from the private sector, academia and 24 government agencies under the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC).
“We are not merely exploring a new source of power; we are architecting a sustainable, high-growth future for the Filipino people. This vision’s fulfillment will not materialize solely by the technology we choose or by the power plants we build. It rests on the strength, clarity and predictability of the regulatory foundation we establish today,” Energy Undersecretary Guevara said in her welcome remarks.
“We are at a pivotal moment for our country’s energy future, and our collective goal is to strengthen our whole-of-society approach for nuclear power operation that will serve both the safety of our citizens and the efficiency of the energy sector,” Undersecretary Guevara added.
NEP-IAC Secretariat Head and Department of Energy (DOE) Director Patrick T. Aquino outlined the regulatory pathway for new power projects, which spans seven major phases requiring sequential and parallel approvals. These include business registration and foundational permits that form part of the first phase; environmental clearances and nuclear siting requirements, second phase; licensing by the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) to construct or secure a provisional permit, third phase; energy sector-specific approvals and licenses, fourth phase; operational and support registrations and permits, fifth phase; construction monitoring and oversight, sixth phase; and finally, licensing for operation, testing and commissioning, seventh phase.
Director Aquino emphasized the need to align all processes with global safety benchmarks. “We must ensure that every nuclear power plant project in our country meets the rigorous standards required for its safe and secure operation, in adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements,” he said.
The government hopes to present the NEP-IAC-validated flowchart to prospective nuclear power project proponents who wish to invest in the Philippines, alongside relevant policies and investment incentives.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin earlier said that the government aims to begin accepting nuclear power plant license applications by this year, 2026, to stay on track with its 2032 target of integrating nuclear energy into Philippine energy mix.
She noted that implementation will be carried out through the PhilAtom, which was created to oversee the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources under Republic Act 12305 or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in September last year.
At the same time, the Philippines is working closely with the IAEA and other nuclear-embarking countries to strengthen technical capabilities and regulatory preparedness. The DOE-led NEP-IAC have also held a series of multistakeholder workshops addressing priority issues identified by the IAEA.
“By finalizing this harmonized licensing roadmap, we are sending a clear signal that the Philippines is preparing for nuclear energy with discipline and foresight. Our commitment is straightforward: strong safety oversight, predictable processes, and transparent public engagement, so that when proponents are ready to invest, government is ready to evaluate, regulate, and deliver our 2032 target responsibly,” Secretary Garin said.
The 2032-2050 Philippine Energy Plan envisions a more diverse energy mix and a phased entry of nuclear energy in the country’s power generation mix, beginning with 1,200 MW of capacity, with operations targeted to commence by 2032, increasing to 2,400 MW by 2035, and 4,800 MW by 2050.
Source: Philippine Government