Nuclear funding on BDO Capital radar—president

While most of its domestic and global peer banks shy away from the heat, BDO Capital and Investment Corp. is stepping into the flames, publicly declaring its readiness and openness to bankroll new coal plant projects.

- By MYRA M. VELASCO

In his remarks at the Powertrends 2025, BDO Capital President Eduardo V. Francisco forthrightly stated that “we’re open to coal, but then there has to be DOE (Department of Energy) exemption” — that is in reference to the non-coverage of the project under the ongoing coal moratorium policy.

He qualified that as the country’s major local bank, “we also have our concern to the shareholders, but we need public support and the DOE support for that because these projects are needed by the country and still part of the energy mix — there are still coal plants that need to be built.”