The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will begin sending scholars to South Korea in March 2026 as part of its Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition program. The initiative is led by the Meralco Power Academy (MPA), which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS). Through this agreement, participants in Meralco’s Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program will study nuclear engineering in South Korea.
According to Meralco, KINGS offers an industry-integrated curriculum that includes access to live plant data, simulators, field visits, and digital learning environments focused on reactor operations and nuclear management. The partnership also involves MPA hosting more than 20 students from KEPCO’s Sudo Electric Technical High School in early 2026.
The agreement further opens opportunities for collaboration on smart grid modernization, storm resilience, and energy transition projects. Areas of cooperation include advanced metering infrastructure rollout, grid automation, data analytics, and integration of distributed energy resources.
Meralco has also signed a separate memorandum of understanding with DL Engineering & Construction to study the feasibility of deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines, particularly for off-grid areas. Feasibility studies, site assessments, and long-term planning are part of this effort.
Meralco executives recently held site visits and meetings with South Korean partners, including Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, Samsung C&T Corporation, and LG Energy Solutions. Company officials said these engagements reflect Meralco’s commitment to developing nuclear energy in a safe and sustainable way.
(Source: Philippine News Agency)
