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Brix Lelis - The Philippine Star
June 2, 2025 | 12:00am
“We will talk to the Korean players not only about the distribution side of the business but also about generation, including nuclear,” Meralco executive vice president and COO Ronnie Aperocho said.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is sending top executives to South Korea in July to advance its nuclear energy push, aiming to unlock its potential for Filipino households.
“We will talk to the Korean players not only about the distribution side of the business but also about generation, including nuclear,” Meralco executive vice president and COO Ronnie Aperocho said.
The Meralco team, he said, is set to engage in a nuclear study tour and distribution modernization discussions with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), the largest electric utility in South Korea.
This follows the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Meralco chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and KEPCO officials to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in the Philippines.
During the visit, Meralco also intends to sign an MOU with KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in line with plans to send Filipino engineering scholars, Aperocho said.
Joining the top-level delegation to South Korea is Emmanuel Rubio, president and CEO of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power investment arm of the Meralco Group.
In an interview, Rubio said discussions with KEPCO and other South Korean firms would focus on forging a clear path forward for nuclear power in the Philippines.
“That has always been the driver,” he noted.
But Rubio pointed out that the successful deployment of nuclear reactors hinges on the establishment of clear policies and programs by the government.
“Regardless of how much we talk about nuclear, unless the government does the framework, the rules, the guidelines and the timetable — they have to be in that discussion,” he said.
Under the current roadmap, the Philippines aims to have commercially operational nuclear power plants by 2032, with at least 1,200 megawatts entering the energy mix.
However, no legislation has been passed so far to support the move, leaving the private sector in limbo.
According to experts, nuclear plants are reliable sources of clean energy, as they do not produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions during power generation.
Meralco, a staunch advocate of nuclear energy, said it is committed to taking the lead in the country’s bold energy transition goals.
In particular, the company is putting significant investments into improving its distribution network, enabling the integration of renewable energy.
“We are not just distributing power to homes and businesses. We are now enabling a clean, flexible, and intelligent energy system toward a decentralized grid,” Meralco first vice president and networks head Froilan Savet said.
Under its grid modernization program, Meralco has outlined its distribution energy resources strategy aimed at strengthening the grid.
“The challenge for utilities is how quickly they can adapt to changes in the energy landscape while maintaining grid stability and reliability. In Meralco, we’re not just preparing for it. We’re enabling it,” Savet said.
Meralco is the largest private distribution company in the Philippines, providing electric service to over eight million customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
