DRIVING THE NUCLEAR ROADMAP. Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) have tapped U.S. engineering firm Sargent & Lundy and local partner AMH Philippines, Inc. to execute the comprehensive Small Modular Reactor (SMR) feasibility study supported by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). Within the One Meralco group, a dedicated working group has also been established to collaborate directly with the consultant team throughout the study whose target completion is by the fourth quarter of 2027.
1 September 2026 – MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) have selected U.S.-based engineering firm Sargent & Lundy, in partnership with local engineering firm AMH Philippines, Inc. (AMH), to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for the potential deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines.
The study marks the next step in the $2.8 million technical assistance program funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which was formally announced in February 2026. It is intended to provide One Meralco with a rigorous, data-driven basis for determining whether, when, and how SMRs could form part of the country’s future energy mix. A dedicated SMR Working Group has been established within the One Meralco group to lead the study and coordinate closely with S&L and AMH. The comprehensive study is targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2027.
“Partnering with Sargent & Lundy marks a pivotal step in turning our nuclear roadmap into actionable, data-driven decisions under our NEST program. As we advance this USTDA-funded study, MGEN remains committed to exploring safe, reliable, and low-carbon technologies such as SMRs as we work to secure the Philippines’ long-term energy future and support the country’s economic growth,” MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio said.
Sargent & Lundy will lead a vendor-neutral, U.S.-focused SMR assessment program aligned with relevant International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards and international best practices. The study will examine key considerations for potential SMR deployment, including technology assessment and site selection, grid integration, financial and commercial planning, decision-making frameworks, and stakeholder capacity building through a dedicated series of workshops.
The engagement will also strengthen the technical capacity of key Philippine stakeholders, including MGEN, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) by providing practical frameworks and tools that can support informed decision-making as the country advances its nuclear energy roadmap.
“By bringing together a dedicated internal working group, alongside global and local experts, we are undertaking a comprehensive assessment that considers the technical, financial, and regulatory realities of the Philippine setting. The study goes beyond identifying suitable technologies and potential sites. It will also build the technical capacity and decision-making frameworks that can support MGEN and our national stakeholders well beyond the completion of the study,” MGEN Head of Strategic Energy Transition Felino M. Bernardo said.