PH, Canadian firms in talks for 700MW nuclear project

Canadian engineering firm Atkins Realis is in ‘collaborative talks’ with Philippine power companies for technology deployment on a targeted first 700-megawatt greenfield nuclear power project that will be equipped with Canada’s enhanced CANDU 6 reactor.

- By MYRNA VELASCO

In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the ongoing World Nuclear Symposium here, Todd Smith, vice president for Candu Marketing & Business Development of Candu Energy Inc of the Atkins Realis group, said “we’re already over a year in conversations with different stakeholders in the Philippines... and we believe that we’re making good progress with anumber of IPPs (independent power producers) and also with the government.”

Candu Energy holds an exclusive license for Candu nuclear reactors that have already been deployed for various projects in different parts of the world. The company specializes in the design, supply, and servicing of this technology.

Smith disclosed that the power companies being engaged for a new nuclear project in the Philippines include the energy investment arm of San Miguel Corporation, Meralco PowerGen Corp., Aboitiz Power Corp., Prime Infrastructure Capital of the Razon Group as well as GNPower Ltd. Co.

“Tt’s a positive step for our company, Candu and Atkins Realis — we believe that we have the project that will work within the current grid in the Philippines,” he emphasized.