President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is open to working with Russia on nuclear energy development, particularly on small modular reactors (SMRs), as the government seeks to strengthen energy security and meet growing power demand.
Speaking in an interview with Russia Today during his working visit to Kazan, Marcos said the Philippines is closely studying emerging nuclear technologies and sees potential in SMRs due to the country’s archipelagic geography.
“And in that regard, I think Russia is the most advanced, especially when we talk about small modular reactors, which is particularly interesting for the Philippines because we have 7,600 plus islands and it is impossible for us to build submarine cables to every place that needs power,” Marcos said.
The President said Russia’s advancements in SMR technology make it a possible partner as the Philippines explores alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and ensure long-term energy stability.
He noted that SMRs, which can generate between 70 and 300 megawatts of electricity, could provide reliable power to individual islands and remote communities where connecting to the main grid remains difficult.
“You just add on and add on and add on. Russia is actually one of the most, if not the most, advanced in terms of making the technology available to the general public,” Marcos said.
The President said Russia has moved beyond experimental projects and has operational commercial SMR facilities.
“There are many pilot projects around the world in SMR. But it’s only, I think, Russia that has some commercial actual plants that are running, that are no longer pilot projects or experimental projects,” he said.
Marcos said he discussed the possibility of cooperation during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that nuclear energy is increasingly being reconsidered worldwide as countries seek cleaner and more stable power sources.
He said rising energy demand from emerging industries, including artificial intelligence and data centers, is prompting the Philippines to examine all available energy options.
“So, if we could transfer that kind of program to the Philippines, it would be to great advantage, especially with the advent of data centers, of AI, with the exponential demand that it requires for power,” Marcos said.
“We have to examine all the possibilities and all the potentials. Then that is one of the best ones. Nuclear power is one of the best, best possibilities,” he added.
