en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 5, Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Cristina Roque recently met with AtkinsRéalis, a Canadian engineering and nuclear technology company, to discuss cooperation on civil nuclear energy, engineering services, and long-term project development to support the Philippines' energy security and clean energy transition goals.
The meeting, held on July 2, took place during Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Canada. Roque, together with Philippine Secretary of Finance Frederick Go, met with AtkinsRéalis executives to focus on evaluating safe and commercially viable technology options to meet the Philippines' long-term energy restructuring needs.
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry stated that AtkinsRéalis has proposed its Candu EC6 nuclear reactor technology as one of the candidate options for the Philippines' civil nuclear program. Candu technology, or Canada Deuterium Uranium reactor, is a pressurized heavy water reactor invented by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited in the late 1950s, using natural unenriched uranium and heavy water.
According to AtkinsRéalis, 31 commercial Candu reactors have been built globally, located in countries including Canada, Argentina, China, Romania, and South Korea. This technology has also been applied in major refurbishment and life extension projects and can produce nuclear isotope byproducts for medical treatment during operation.
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry said the discussions covered multiple aspects of the nuclear energy value chain, including regulatory readiness, project development, licensing and engineering support, staff training, and human capital development.
Roque stated that reliable and affordable energy is crucial for industrial development. The Philippines is studying the inclusion of nuclear energy in its long-term energy mix and welcomes AtkinsRéalis' interest in sharing its mature engineering and nuclear technology expertise with the country.
Go noted that as the Philippines strengthens its regulatory and institutional frameworks, AtkinsRéalis can contribute its global expertise. The Philippine side also reiterated its commitment to supporting strategic investors through investment facilitation mechanisms, including the Strategic Investment Green Lane established under Executive Order No. 18.
