US, Philippines boost nuclear cooperation

Philippines’ Secretary of Energy Raphael Lotilla and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the signing ceremony. Pic/AP

The US and the Philippines have signed a nuclear cooperation pact under which US investment and technologies are to help the Southeast Asian nation transition to cleaner energy and bolster its power supply.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the deal by his energy secretary and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.

"We see nuclear energy becoming a part of the Philippines' energy mix by 2032 and we are more than happy to pursue this path with the US as one of our partners," Marcos said at the signing ceremony.

He said the pact, known as a Section 123 agreement, would support the development of reliable, affordable and sustainable power in the Philippines. It will also open doors for US companies to invest and participate in nuclear power projects, he said.

Blinken said negotiations with the Philippines were completed within a year, the fastest for a Section 123 agreement, which is required under the US Atomic Energy Act to allow the transfer of nuclear equipment and material for peaceful uses.

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